Mumbai, April 24th, 2022 – The Sessions Court for Greater Bombay has granted bail to Abhyuday Pratap Singh, a 25-year-old student from Navi Mumbai, who was arrested in connection with a visa fraud case. The court, presided over by Additional Sessions Judge M.G. Deshpande, allowed the bail application, citing the completion of the initial investigation and the accused’s serious medical condition.
Singh was arrested in connection with C.R.No. 164/2022, registered at the BKC Police Station, involving allegations of forgery and cheating under Sections 420, 465, 467, 468, 471, 120B read with Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code. The case originated from a complaint filed by the Consulate General of America, which alleged that Singh had submitted fraudulent documents during his visa application process.
According to the prosecution, represented by Additional Public Prosecutor Rashmi Tendulkar, Abraham Ramirage, an investigator for the American Consulate, discovered discrepancies in documents submitted by Singh. These documents included an appointment contract letter from Doris Marine Services Pvt. Ltd., a Panama CDC number, a ship joining letter, and a CDC passport. Upon verification, it was revealed that the company was blacklisted and had no record of employing Singh.
During the investigation, Singh reportedly named Anamika as the person who prepared the fraudulent documents. However, Anamika remains absconding.
Singh’s defense, presented by Advocate Ram Mani Upadhyay, argued for bail, stating that the initial investigation was complete, and Singh had cooperated by handing over all relevant documents. Furthermore, the defense submitted medical records from M.G.M., New Mumbai Hospital, Chandan Hospital, and Apollo Hospital, indicating that Singh is a cancer patient.
Judge Deshpande, in his order, noted that Singh had been in police custody for four days and had provided all necessary documents to the investigating officer. He also addressed the prosecution’s concerns about the absconding co-accused and the possibility of Singh repeating the crime.
“Contention of the Investigating Officer that, co-accused Anamika is yet absconding, has no nexus to extend detention of the applicant,” Judge Deshpande stated. “It cannot be ignored that all jails in Mumbai are over crowded. Particularly when the investigation is over, there is no point in keeping the accused behind bars for endless period.”
Regarding the prosecution’s claim that Singh might re-offend, the judge found no substantial basis.
“There is no substance in another objection of the prosecution that, accused is likely to repeat the crime in future,” the judge noted.
Considering Singh’s medical condition, the court granted bail with the following conditions:
- Personal Bond (PR) and Surety Bond: Singh must execute a PR bond of Rs. 30,000/- with one or two sureties of the same amount.
- Police Attendance: He must attend the BKC Police Station once a week on every Saturday between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM for 60 days.
- No Tampering with Evidence: He is prohibited from pressuring witnesses or tampering with evidence.
- Provisional Cash Security: Singh must provide a provisional cash security of Rs. 30,000/- and furnish the required surety within two months.
- Bail Before Trial Court: The bail is granted before the trial court.
The court’s decision highlights the balance between the accused’s rights and the investigation’s needs, particularly in cases involving serious medical conditions. The BKC Police Station is expected to continue its investigation and file a chargesheet.