Mumbai, February 4, 2022 – Anil Kumar Ishwarcharan Singh, a 63-year-old priest, has been granted bail by the Sessions Court for Greater Bombay in connection with a multi-crore forgery and cheating case. Additional Sessions Judge R.M. Sadrani granted bail to Singh, considering his age, lack of criminal antecedents, and the circumstances of his arrest.

Singh was arrested in connection with Crime No. 1 of 2022, registered with the DCB-CID Unit VII, Crime Branch, Mumbai (originally Bhandup Police Station Crime No. 9 of 2022). He was charged with offences punishable under Sections 420 (cheating), 465 (forgery), 467 (forgery of valuable security), 468 (forgery for purpose of cheating), 471 (using as genuine a forged document),¹ 120-B (criminal conspiracy) read with 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the Indian Penal Code.²

The Allegations and Complainant’s Account

The complainant, Rajni Sujit Rana, filed a First Information Report (FIR) on January 7, 2022, alleging that she was defrauded by a group of individuals, including co-accused Bhaskar Rao. According to the FIR, Rao claimed to have a precious metal pot that he had sold to a Canadian company, Cameco Corporation, for 15 billion (approximately Rs. 55,000 crores).

Rao allegedly told Rana that he needed Rs. 27 crores to pay taxes to the Reserve Bank of India to release the funds. He promised her 40% of the pot’s value if she provided the money. Relying on his words, Rana paid Rs. 30,000. Subsequently, she learned that Rao was a habitual fraudster who created forged documents.

A police raid on January 6, 2022, at Hotel Ananta, Ghatkopar, led to the recovery of 23 forged documents, including a letter pad of the Reserve Bank of India, a confidentiality agreement, and a certificate of authority from the Ministry of Defence. Singh was present at the hotel during the raid.

Defense Arguments and Court’s Decision

Singh’s defense, led by Advocate Anand Jondhale, argued that Singh was present at the hotel at the behest of his friend Narayan and was unaware of the fraudulent transaction. He claimed that Singh, a priest, was at the location to perform a puja. Singh was questioned by the police on January 6 but was not arrested until January 8, 2022. The defense emphasized Singh’s lack of criminal antecedents.

The prosecution, represented by APP Malankar and the investigating officer, opposed the bail application, arguing that Singh was actively involved in the conspiracy. They pointed out that Singh, a resident of Delhi, had been in Mumbai for a month before the incident, indicating his involvement. They also expressed concerns that Singh might not cooperate with the investigation and that some co-accused were still at large.

However, the court, after reviewing the records, found that Singh had disclosed his presence at the hotel at the instance of his friend and was not aware of the transaction. The court also noted that Singh was not arrested on the day of the raid and that there were no criminal antecedents against him. Considering these factors, the court granted bail to Singh.

Conditions of Bail

Singh was granted bail on the following conditions:

• He must execute a personal bond of Rs. 50,000 with one surety of the same amount.
• He must deposit a cash surety of Rs. 50,000.
• He must furnish his detailed address and phone number.
• He must attend the DCB-CID Unit VII, Crime Branch, Mumbai, every Monday between 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. until further orders.
• He must not directly or indirectly influence or threaten any witness.
• He must not leave India without prior permission from the court.

Implications and Future Proceedings

The granting of bail to Singh highlights the court’s consideration of individual circumstances, such as age and lack of criminal history, while balancing the seriousness of the charges. The case will proceed with further investigation and trial, where the prosecution will present its evidence, and the defense will have the opportunity to challenge the allegations. This decision reflects the courts consideration of individual facts, in criminal proceedings.