Mumbai, February 17, 2022 – Bilal Siraj Jafari @ Irani has been denied bail by the Sessions Court for Greater Bombay in a cheating case. Additional Judge G.B. Gurao (Court Room No. 17) issued the order on February 15, 2022.
Jafari was arrested in connection with C.R. No. 17/2021, registered at the Tilak Nagar Police Station, for offenses under Section 420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property) read with 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of1 the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Background and Allegations:
The complainant, Adilakshmi Mahendra Mopnar, reported that on January 15, 2021, while walking with her husband, a man on a motorcycle stopped her. He warned her about alleged police checking ahead and advised her to remove her gold chain. He then instructed her to place the chain in his handkerchief, which he returned to her. Upon checking later, she found the chain missing. The chain was valued at Rs. 90,000.
Arguments Presented:
Advocate A.T. Mhaske, representing Jafari, argued that he was innocent, falsely implicated, and that there was no specific role attributed to him in the crime. He also highlighted the lack of recovery of the chain and that the charge sheet had been filed, indicating the completion of the investigation. He assured the court that Jafari would abide by any conditions imposed.
Additional Public Prosecutor (APP) Siroya, representing the State, opposed the bail, stating that Jafari had sold the chain and was a habitual offender with numerous cases registered against him. He argued that releasing Jafari would lead to similar offenses.
Court’s Reasoning and Decision:
Judge Gurao acknowledged that the chain was not recovered from Jafari but noted the recovery of Rs. 10,000 from his house. He emphasized Jafari’s extensive criminal history, including approximately eleven cases registered in Mumbai and Kalyan, involving property offenses, cheating, and obstructing public servants. He also noted a case under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA).
The court highlighted the seriousness of the allegations, the recovery of money from Jafari’s house, and the complainant being an elderly woman. Considering these factors and Jafari’s criminal antecedents, the court found him not entitled to bail.
Decision:
The court rejected Jafari’s bail application.
Order Details:
The order was dictated and transcribed on February 15, 2022, and signed on February 17, 2022. The certified copy was uploaded on February 17, 2022.
This decision reflects the court’s consideration of Jafari’s extensive criminal history, the seriousness of the allegations, and the recovery of money from his house, leading to the denial of bail.