Bail rejected for cult leader Sunil Kulkarni

In a setback to Shifu Sunkriti cult leader Sunil Kulkarni, the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court, recently turned down his application seeking bail. The court considered the prosecution’s submissions wherein it highlighted Kulkarni’s criminal antecedents.

Kulkarni, who posed himself as a ‘psychiatrist’ was arrested in June this year, on the directions of the Bombay High Court. He was arrested under charges of trafficking, obscenity, cheating and for offences punishable under the Information Technology Act, by the Malad police.

Kulkarni had moved for bail in July, on the ground that investigating team had filed its chargesheet. He also contended that all the offences against him were not severe.

According to public prosecutor Rajendra Suryavanshi, the court while dismissing Kulkarni’s bail plea considered the fact that some severe cases were pending against him, in various courts.

Suryavanshi said, “We highlighted Kulkarni’s criminal antecedents especially the one pending in Delhi wherein he is booked under the stringent Protection Of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. We also informed the court of the cheating cases pending against him in Nagpur and Mumbai.” “We also apprised the court of our apprehension that if Kulkarni is released on bail then there are chances that he would tamper with the evidence,” Suryavanshi added. Even the parents of Sule sisters intervened in the bail arguments, through their advocate.