Mumbai Court Refuses Bail to 71-Year-Old Accused in Major Land Forgery Case
Mumbai: A Mumbai court has denied bail to 71-year-old Prakash Dubey, who is accused of playing a key role in an alleged land fraud involving forged documents and counterfeit government stamps to gain control of a valuable property.
The case revolves around nearly 12,550 square metres of land, with investigators alleging that Dubey and his associates used fake legal documents to unlawfully claim rights over the property.
While seeking bail, Dubey’s lawyers argued that he is a senior citizen suffering from multiple health issues, including diabetes, hypertension and heart-related ailments. They also highlighted that he has no prior criminal record and has long-standing ties to Mumbai.
However, the court ruled that the seriousness of the allegations outweighed these considerations. Additional Sessions Judge P.A. Sable observed that granting bail at this stage could hamper the ongoing investigation and potentially affect public confidence in the justice system.
According to the prosecution, the accused were part of an organised scheme that involved creating a forged irrevocable power of attorney and misusing official stamps belonging to government offices. Investigators allege that these fabricated documents were later registered to create the appearance of legitimacy and facilitate control over the land.
The alleged forgery came to light after the Bombay High Court directed authorities to verify certain power of attorney documents. During verification, officials reportedly found that the registered documents were forged and that no valid records existed under the registration numbers cited by the accused.
Prosecutors argued that releasing Dubey on bail could create a risk of evidence being tampered with or witnesses being influenced while the investigation is still underway.
The defence maintained that the land transactions were conducted through proper banking channels and claimed there was no direct evidence linking Dubey to the creation of the forged documents.
Despite these arguments, the court concluded that considering the nature of the allegations and Dubey’s alleged role in the case, bail could not be granted at this stage. The judge also noted that any necessary medical treatment could be provided by jail authorities.
The investigation into the alleged land scam continues as authorities work to determine the full extent of the fraud and identify all individuals involved.
News source: Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets.
