Mumbai, July 24, 2023 – Hasan Ali Zaid Ali Qureshi @ Kasab, a 31-year-old man, has been granted bail by the Sessions Court in Mumbai in connection with an alleged fraud involving promises of doubled money. Qureshi was arrested in connection with Crime No. 704/2022 registered at Deonar Police Station under Sections 420 (cheating), 120(b) (criminal conspiracy), and 406 (criminal breach of trust) of the Indian Penal Code.

The case involves allegations that Qureshi and his co-accused lured the complainant, Ejaj Abdul Sakur Shaikh, with promises of doubling his money within half an hour. The complainant was shown videos of currency notes with similar series being doubled, convincing him to invest. He eventually arranged Rs. 5 lakh, taking a loan from his employer.

The Alleged Fraudulent Scheme

According to the First Information Report (FIR), the complainant, following instructions from co-accused Sajid Abdul Kadir Khan, went to Amar Talkies, Govandi, with Rs. 5 lakh. He was then instructed to give Rs. 1 lakh from the amount to a person and keep the rest in his bag. Later, at Samajkalyan Hall, Tanaji Malusare Road, Govandi, while the complainant was expecting to receive double the amount, two individuals in an Innova car allegedly snatched the bag containing the money.

Applicant’s Defense and Court’s Observations

Qureshi, represented by Advocate Sanjay Jadhav, sought bail on the grounds of false implication and parity, arguing that his name was not mentioned in the FIR and that he had no connection with the co-accused. He also emphasized that the co-accused had already been granted bail and that the investigation was complete.

The Additional Public Prosecutor (APP) opposed the bail, stating that Rs. 5,000 had been recovered from co-accused Rizwan Mohd. Safurkhan, while the remaining Rs. 3,95,000 was yet to be recovered. The APP also argued that Qureshi’s involvement was disclosed by co-accused Ejaj Samiulla Shaikh and that there was a risk of tampering with evidence.

The Additional Sessions Judge, R.R. Patare, after reviewing the case and hearing both sides, noted that Qureshi’s name was not mentioned in the FIR and that his involvement was revealed through a co-accused’s statement. The court also observed that the investigation was nearly complete and that custodial interrogation was no longer necessary.

Bail Granted with Conditions

The court granted bail to Qureshi on a personal bond and surety bond of Rs. 30,000 with one or more sureties, subject to the following conditions:

• Qureshi must attend Deonar Police Station every Monday for one month between 11:00 AM and 3:00 PM.
• He is prohibited from contacting the complainant or prosecution witnesses and from tampering with evidence.
• He was given the option to furnish a cash surety of Rs. 30,000 in lieu of sureties for two weeks, within which he must provide the required sureties.
• The bail process will be conducted before the concerned Metropolitan Magistrate Court.

The court’s decision highlights the importance of considering the stage of investigation and the individual’s role in the alleged crime when granting bail. The conditions imposed aim to ensure the accused’s cooperation with the investigation and prevent any interference with the judicial process.