Mumbai, May 7, 2024 – Jerry Philips Jacob has been denied bail by the Sessions Court for Greater Bombay in a human trafficking and extortion case. Additional Sessions Judge Rajesh A. Sasne (Court Room No. 30) issued the order on May 4, 2024.
Jacob was arrested in connection with C.R. No. 33/2024, registered at the DCB CID Unit VIII (corresponding to C.R. No. 298/2024 at Vile Parle Police Station), for offenses under Sections 420 (cheating), 370 (trafficking of persons), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 342 (wrongful confinement), 346 (wrongful confinement in secret), 347 (wrongful confinement for extortion), 386 (extortion by putting person in fear of death), 504 (intentional insult), 506 (criminal intimidation), 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention), and 120(B) (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian1 Penal Code (IPC), and Sections 10 and 24 of the Emigration Act, 1983.
Background and Allegations:
The complainant, Siddharth Yadav, alleged that Jacob and his associates were involved in human trafficking. Yadav, through a relative, contacted Jitendra, a chef, who introduced him to Jacob as an agent for securing jobs abroad. Yadav and others were allegedly taken to Laos under the pretext of jobs, where they were forced to work in a bogus call center. When they tried to return to India, they were threatened and extorted. They were also warned against filing complaints upon their return. The complainant alleged that Jacob’s agency did not have a valid license for securing overseas jobs.
Arguments Presented:
Advocates Kanishk Jayant and Antara Jayant, representing Jacob, argued that he was falsely implicated and innocent. They stated that Jacob had undergone custodial interrogation, the investigation was complete, and he was the sole earning member of his family. They emphasized that there were no criminal antecedents against him and that he was a permanent resident.
Additional Public Prosecutor (APP) Iqbal Solkar, representing the State, opposed the bail, arguing that Jacob might flee justice, threaten witnesses, and tamper with evidence.
Court’s Reasoning and Decision:
Judge Sasne reviewed the application, reply, and documents on record. He noted the serious allegations of wrongful detention, human trafficking, and extortion with threats to life.
The court acknowledged the statement recorded under Section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) from witness Rena Mendosa, who corroborated the allegations of detention and subsequent release from Laos. The court also noted that co-accused Godfree received Rs. 92,000 from Vimal Chaturvedi for the release of Divakar Chaturvedi.
The court considered Jacob’s argument disputing the applicability of Section 370 of the IPC, citing a judgment from the Karnataka High Court. However, the court emphasized the seriousness of the allegations and the ongoing investigation, which was still in its primary stage.
The court found that the victims were lured with job offers in Thailand but taken to Laos and forced to work in an illegal call center. The court determined that Jacob had actively participated in the crime and that his release would hamper the investigation and lead to evidence tampering.
Decision:
Jacob’s bail application was rejected.
Order Details:
The order was dictated on May 4, 2024, transcribed on May 6, 2024, and signed on May 7, 2024. The certified copy was uploaded on May 7, 2024, at 2:41 p.m.
This decision reflects the court’s consideration of the seriousness of the allegations, the ongoing investigation, the witness statements, and the potential for Jacob to obstruct justice.