Sena leader Anandrao Adsul’s pre-arrest bail plea rejected

Justice Nitin Sambre rejected the plea observing that there is prima facie material for which his custodial interrogation is necessary

In a setback for Shiv Sena leader and former Member of Parliament Anandrao Adsul, the Bombay High Court on Friday rejected his pre-arrest bail plea, in connection with the alleged Rs 980-crore City Co-operative Bank fraud that is being investigated by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

Justice Nitin Sambre rejected the plea observing that there is prima facie material for which his custodial interrogation is necessary.

Adsul had approached the HC after the sessions court rejected his anticipatory bail application observing that prima facie material against him cannot be ignored.

Based on Adsul’s complaint, the Economic Offences Wing of the Mumbai

Police had registered a case for criminal breach of trust, cheating and criminal conspiracy under the Indian Penal Code for alleged irregularities in the loan disbursement by the bank.

During the investigation, the ED issued three summons to Adsul to appear either in person or through a representative, which both skipped. Adsul claimed that he could not respond to the summons due to an angioplasty.

Ashok Mundargi, Adsul’s counsel, contended that the ED did not given any documents to him to specify why he was summoned. Contending that he was cooperating with the investigation, Adsul has expressed apprehension of arrest if he appears before the agency.

Additional solicitor general Anil Singh and advocates Aditya Thakkar and Sriram Shirsat, appearing for the ED, submitted investigation papers to the court in a sealed envelope. The counsels also showed statements recorded during the probe which prima facie showed material against Adsul.

Rejecting the anticipatory bail plea, the sessions judge had added that custodial interrogation of the applicant would be more fruitful for collection of further evidence.