Mumbai Court Rejects Bail Plea of Elderly Man Accused in Multi-Crore Land Fraud Case
A Mumbai court has denied bail to 71-year-old Prakash Dubey, who is accused of being involved in a large-scale land fraud case allegedly executed through forged documents and counterfeit government stamps.
The court observed that the seriousness of the allegations outweighed considerations related to the accused’s age and health conditions. It noted that granting bail at this stage could hamper the ongoing investigation and potentially affect evidence and witnesses connected to the case.
According to the prosecution, Dubey and his associates allegedly fabricated an irrevocable power of attorney in 2010 and misused official government stamps to gain unlawful control over a prime property measuring approximately 12,550 square metres. Investigators claim the forged documents were later registered, enabling the accused to establish authority over the land.
The alleged fraud came to light after a verification exercise ordered by the Bombay High Court uncovered irregularities in the documents. Authorities reportedly found that key records were either forged or did not exist under the registration numbers mentioned in the paperwork.
During the bail hearing, Dubey’s legal team argued that he suffers from diabetes, hypertension, and heart-related ailments. They also pointed out that he has no previous criminal record and claimed there was no direct evidence linking him to the creation of the forged documents.
However, the court ruled that the investigation is still underway and that the allegations indicate a well-organised and serious offence. The judge stated that concerns raised by the prosecution regarding possible destruction of evidence or influence on witnesses could not be ignored.
The court further observed that appropriate medical treatment could be provided to the accused while in custody. As a result, Dubey will remain behind bars as investigators continue to probe the alleged land scam and identify any additional individuals involved.
News source: Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets
