MUMBAI: The Bombay high court on Wednesday granted interim protection from arrest for four weeks to Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and former Mumbai mayor Kishori Pednekar in a case related to alleged irregularities in the purchase of body bags for Covid-19 victims.
Pednekar had filed a pre-arrest bail plea after a sessions court on August 29 rejected her pre-arrest bail plea.
The sessions court had observed that the allegations prima facie showed a conspiracy involving misuse of power and public money.
On September 4, the Maharashtra government had verbally assured the court that no coercive action would be taken against Pednekar till Wednesday.
On Wednesday a single-judge bench of Justice N J Jamadar, observed that the investigation was on and presently no custodial interrogation appeared to be warranted at this stage.
The HC said the issue of custodial interrogation could be considered during the final hearing of her plea.
“I am inclined to protect the liberty of the applicant. In the event of arrest, the applicant shall be released on a personal bond of Rs. 30,000,” said Justice Jamadar and directed pednekar to appear before the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Mumbai police on September 11, 13, and 16 from 10 am to 1 pm and posted the matter for further after four weeks.
On August 4, after BJP leader Kirit Somaiya filed a complaint, the EOW registered an FIR against Pednekar, a former additional municipal commissioner (projects), a former deputy municipal commissioner (purchase), private contractor Vedant Innotech and unidentified government servants for the alleged fraud of almost Rs 50 lakh.
Vedant Innotech had allegedly supplied body bags to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) at Rs 6,719 apiece, over three times more than what it had charged other government authorities or private hospitals during the same period.
Pednekar had filed a pre-arrest bail plea after a sessions court on August 29 rejected her pre-arrest bail plea.
The sessions court had observed that the allegations prima facie showed a conspiracy involving misuse of power and public money.
On September 4, the Maharashtra government had verbally assured the court that no coercive action would be taken against Pednekar till Wednesday.
On Wednesday a single-judge bench of Justice N J Jamadar, observed that the investigation was on and presently no custodial interrogation appeared to be warranted at this stage.
The HC said the issue of custodial interrogation could be considered during the final hearing of her plea.
“I am inclined to protect the liberty of the applicant. In the event of arrest, the applicant shall be released on a personal bond of Rs. 30,000,” said Justice Jamadar and directed pednekar to appear before the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Mumbai police on September 11, 13, and 16 from 10 am to 1 pm and posted the matter for further after four weeks.
On August 4, after BJP leader Kirit Somaiya filed a complaint, the EOW registered an FIR against Pednekar, a former additional municipal commissioner (projects), a former deputy municipal commissioner (purchase), private contractor Vedant Innotech and unidentified government servants for the alleged fraud of almost Rs 50 lakh.
Vedant Innotech had allegedly supplied body bags to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) at Rs 6,719 apiece, over three times more than what it had charged other government authorities or private hospitals during the same period.
