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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Bihar: Over 150 children fall ill after consuming 'mid-day meal' in Saharsa
Saharsa (PTI): More than 150 children were taken ill after allegedly consuming food that was part of the mid-day meal in a school in Bihar’s Saharsa district, a senior official said on Thursday.
The incident occurred at a middle school in Baluaha village of the district.
The official said that 115 children were undergoing treatment at the Sadar Hospital, while around 50 students were admitted to Mahishi Public Health Centre.
“We received information that several children fell ill after consuming the mid-day meal in Baluaha. The children were initially treated at the primary health centre, but later, many were referred to the Sadar Hospital,” Saharsa District Magistrate Deepesh Kumar told reporters.
“According to doctors, the health condition of the children has improved, but they will be kept under observation for some time. There is no need to panic. Some kids are having mild fever. They are being treated accordingly,” Kumar said.
Meanwhile, family members of some children claimed that a snake was found in the container in which cooked pulses was stored at the school.
Of the 545 students present in the school, 200 had already eaten their meals by the time the snake was spotted, and later complained of stomach ache and vomiting, they said.
Regarding the claims, the DM said food samples have been collected from the school.
“We will be able to comment on this only after the results of the tested samples arrive,” he said.
