Mumbai, March 12, 2024 – Ramzan Mehboob Shaikh, a 34-year-old resident of Jogeshwari, Mumbai, has been granted bail by the Sessions Court for Greater Bombay in a vehicle fraud case. Additional Sessions Judge Rajesh A. Sasne (Court Room No. 30) issued the order on March 4, 2024.
Shaikh was arrested in connection with C.R. No. 81/2023, registered at the DCB CID Unit-4 (corresponding to C.R. No. 1096/2023 at Amboli Police Station), for offenses under Sections 420 (cheating), 465 (forgery), 467 (forgery of valuable security, will, etc.), 468 (forgery for purpose of cheating), 471 (using as genuine a forged document1 or electronic record), 474 (having possession of documents2 or electronic record knowing it to be forged with intent to use it as genuine), and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Background and Allegations:
The prosecution alleged that Shaikh, along with co-accused Sikandar Shah, was involved in a scheme to purchase scrap dumper trucks, repair them, obtain fraudulent RTO No Objection Certificates (NOCs) from Arunachal Pradesh, and then sell them with new registration numbers from Vasai RTO. They allegedly forged chassis and engine numbers. Shaikh was the owner of a tempo (MH48CQ4193) seized by the police.
Arguments Presented:
Advocate Neha Bhavsar, representing Shaikh, argued that he was falsely implicated, had been in custody since December 13, 2023, had undergone custodial interrogation, and no further recoveries were pending.
Additional Public Prosecutor (APP) Iqbal Solkar, representing the State, opposed the bail, arguing that Shaikh might flee, tamper with evidence, or threaten witnesses.
Advocate S.M. Kharat, representing an intervenor, did not make any arguments.
Court’s Reasoning and Decision:
Judge Sasne reviewed the application, reply, and documents. He noted that the police investigation revealed that the seized vehicles were purchased as scrap, and documents were forged to show registration in Arunachal Pradesh. The vehicles’ manufacturing details were also manipulated.
The court observed that Shaikh was arrested on December 13, 2023, and the charge sheet had been filed, indicating the completion of the investigation. Given that no further recoveries were pending and Shaikh was a resident of Mumbai, the court concluded that further incarceration was unwarranted.
Bail Conditions:
Shaikh was granted bail upon furnishing a personal bond and surety bond of Rs. 25,000 with one or two sureties. The following conditions were imposed:
- Shaikh must not tamper with prosecution witnesses or evidence.
- He must regularly attend the concerned police station on the second Saturday of every month between 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. until the framing of charges.
- He was granted provisional cash bail of Rs. 25,000 and must furnish surety within four weeks, failing which the cash bail will be forfeited.
- He must not leave India without prior permission from the court.
- Bail to be furnished before the Magistrate.
Order Details:
The order was dictated on March 4, 2024, transcribed on March 6, 2024, and signed on March 11, 2024. The certified copy was uploaded on March 12, 2024, at 1:59 p.m.
This decision reflects the court’s consideration of the completion of the investigation, the filing of the charge sheet, and the imposition of conditions to ensure Shaikh’s cooperation and prevent potential interference with the legal process.