Maharashtra: Gilt rip-off case attracts to an in depth, appointment of public prosecutor holding Cong publish finally stage raises hypothesis

JUST AS the 19-year gilt rip-off case involving state minister for animal husbandry Sunil Kedar attracts to an in depth, the appointment of a brand new public prosecutor, who’s an office-bearer of the Congress occasion entrance, has raised many an eyebrow.
Asif Qureshi, chairperson of the authorized and human rights cell of the Congress and son of former Congress MLA Shaukat Qureshi, was just lately appointed the brand new public prosecutor within the Nagpur District Central Cooperative Bank (NDCCB) gilt (authorities securities) rip-off case. Earlier on March 5, Jyoti Vajani, who was the general public prosecutor within the case for the previous two years put in her papers.
The case dates again to April 2002, when the alleged rip-off got here to gentle. The NDCCB gave Rs 124.60 crore to 5 middleman corporations to buy authorities securities. The 5 corporations, Home Trade Securities, Giltage Management, Century Dealers, Syndicate Management and Indramani Merchants, nonetheless, allegedly didn’t return to NDCCB with any securities. Of these, the utmost quantity of Rs 94 crore went to Home Trade Securities. Kedar was the chairperson of the financial institution again then.
Kedar was arrested on May 3, 2002. A chargesheet was filed on November 22, 2002, however Kedar secured bail on the bottom that the chargesheet was not filed inside the stipulated time of three months. The case has dragged on since then with 51 witnesses deposing earlier than the court docket and solely 5 to 6 remaining to be cross-examined.
Kedar has since received 4 occasions from Saoner constituency as Congress MLA and is now a minister within the MVA authorities.
In 2019, the Bombay High Court ordered day-to-day listening to of the case on a PIL looking for early disposal on the bottom that it concerned misappropriation of public funds. Since then, the listening to within the decrease court docket gathered steam and a judgment is predicted anytime. Some delay was additionally attributable to Covid-19 pandemic. Qureshi’s appointment at this juncture, nonetheless, has raised hypothesis in regards to the authorities’s intentions.
Qureshi, who can be ex-chairperson of the bar council of Maharashtra and Goa, mentioned, “I have successfully handled responsibilities as public prosecutor over the past 15 years and have achieved a high rate of conviction. That may have been the reason why they approached me. If any conflict of interest is surmised due to my holding the MPCC post, I am ready to resign.”
Qureshi’s predecessor Jyoti Vajani mentioned, “I have resigned on my own due to personal reasons. There is no question of being asked to resign.”
She added, “Some witnesses, about five to six, remain to be examined. But because of the pandemic they can’t be forced to come for the hearing.”
Law and judiciary division secretary Rajesh Laddha didn’t reply to calls and messages.