Mumbai, August 2nd, 2022: The Sessions Court for Greater Mumbai has granted bail to Miss Dipika Prakash Mali, who was arrested in connection with a case involving alleged cheating and forgery in the name of Tata Capital. The court, presided over by Additional Sessions Judge Shri A.A. Kulkarni, found that the investigation against Mali was complete and that there was no prima facie evidence directly implicating her in the alleged cheating activities.
Miss Dipika Prakash Mali, residing in the Bhivandi area of Thane district, was apprehended along with three other individuals – Satish Durgule, Sagar Phatak, and Prathamesh Patade – following a raid by the Crime Detection Branch (DCB) CID, Unit III, at Shripal Building in Ghatkopar West. The police action was based on intelligence suggesting a cheating operation was being conducted under the guise of Tata Capital.
According to the prosecution, Mali and the other accused were allegedly running a fraudulent call center, impersonating representatives of Tata Capital and engaging in cheating and forgery. The state argued that the operation had defrauded at least four individuals of a total amount of ₹1,98,300. The prosecution emphasized the seriousness and technical nature of the offense, and stated that further arrests were yet to be made, opposing bail on the grounds of ongoing investigation and conspiracy.
However, Advocate Mr. Vikas Kamble, representing Miss Mali, argued that his client was merely an employee of the company purportedly run by co-accused Satish Durgule. He asserted that the investigation was complete and pointed out that the items seized from Mali – two mobile phones, four sim cards, her PAN card, a diary, a notebook, and a meager ₹100 – did not provide substantial evidence linking her to the alleged cheating. Kamble contended that there was no evidence of Mali directly benefiting from any fraudulent activity and that her continued detention was unwarranted.
After hearing both sides and reviewing the case documents, Judge Kulkarni sided with the defense. The court observed that the investigation concerning Miss Mali was indeed concluded and there were no specific accusations of her directly cheating any individual. The order highlighted that the alleged fraudulent company was ostensibly run by Satish Durgule. Crucially, the court noted the absence of any prima facie evidence indicating that Miss Mali had personally gained any financial benefit from the alleged fraudulent activities.
Furthermore, the court acknowledged the prosecution’s submission that no further seizures were anticipated from Miss Mali. The judge also took into account the fact that she had no prior criminal record. Based on these considerations, the court concluded that with the investigation completed and no apparent purpose served by further detention, Miss Mali was entitled to bail.
Consequently, Criminal Bail Application No. 1697 of 2022 was allowed. Judge Kulkarni ordered the release of Miss Dipika Prakash Mali on bail, subject to her furnishing a Personal Recognizance (PR) Bond of ₹25,000 and providing one or two sureties of a similar amount.
The bail order also imposed several conditions on Miss Mali: she must attend the DCB CID, Unit III office whenever summoned by the Investigating Officer; provide proof of her residential address and contact numbers to the Investigating Officer; refrain from directly or indirectly influencing witnesses; and not leave India without prior court permission. The procedural formality of bail being executed before the lower court was also stipulated.
The granting of bail to Miss Mali suggests a nuanced understanding of her role in the alleged scam, differentiating her from the purported mastermind and acknowledging the lack of direct evidence against her personal involvement in cheating. The case, registered as C.R. No. 21/2022 with DCB CID, Unit III, remains under investigation regarding the other accused and the broader network of the alleged Tata Capital impersonation fraud.