Mumbai court grants bail to Navy officer in visa fraud case
Mumbai (PTI): A court here has granted bail to an officer of the Indian Navy arrested in an alleged visa fraud case, citing that the accused had been in detention since June 2023 and the trial against him is yet to commence.
Additional sessions judge V M Pathade on November 25 allowed the plea filed by Lieutenant Commander Vipin Dagar.
Police have alleged that Dagar was found in possession of 14 Indian passports in the name of different people, a stamp machine (purchased from Vishakhapattanam to make fake stamps) and 108 rubber stamps of some establishments.
He also used a rubber sheet to create forged and fabricated documents to obtain passports/visas for co-accused in the case, they said.
They also claimed that Dagar entered the premises of the Korean Embassy in his Naval uniform, tried to put pressure on the concerned officer and behaved in an indecent manner, which is not expected from a public servant.
"The applicant's role in the commission of the subject crime is major and unbecoming of a naval officer," it submitted.
The prosecution said the investigating agency has collected sufficient material to disclose Dagar's "active participation" in activities leading to the commission of the alleged offences.
Dagar's advocate, Sunil Pandey, contended that he has been falsely implicated in the case and is a victim of circumstances.
"The grounds for arrest were not furnished by the police while arresting the accused," he submitted.
The defence relied on several landmark judgments of the Supreme Court to support its arguments for bail.
"There was no prima facie case, as Dagar is neither the beneficiary nor has he received any profit," Pandey argued.
The court, after hearing both sides, held that a chargesheet had been filed against Dagar and the co-accused.
"The applicant has been under detention since June 28, 2023, the trial is yet to commence, and there is no likelihood of the trial being concluded in the near future," the court said.
"In the light of the pronouncements of the Apex court, I am of the considered opinion that the applicant is entitled to grant of bail as sought for subject to appropriate conditions," it added.
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Vijay unable to prove majority, not invited for CM oath ceremony: Sources
Chennai: Actor-politician Vijay has reportedly not been invited to take oath as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu after failing to demonstrate support from the required number of MLAs, sources in Raj Bhavan said.
According to media reports that quoted sources in the office of R.N. Ravi Arlekar, Vijay could not prove the backing of 118 legislators, the majority mark in the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly.
Despite last-minute efforts to secure support from the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazagam (AMMK), and an IUML legislator, Vijay reportedly managed support from only 116 MLAs, falling short by two members.
Sources said Vijay failed to submit letters of support from the VCK and the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML).
Later, the IUML issued a statement clarifying that it was not part of the TVK-led alliance.
Meanwhile, AMMK leader T.T.V. Dhinakaran is also said to have informed the Governor that his party would support the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) instead.
Earlier in the evening, Vijay had met Governor Arlekar and staked claim to form the government, stating that he enjoyed the support of 118 MLAs.
