Ananda Chandra Ghadai @ Anand Chand Ghadai v. The Central Bureau Of Investigation (C.B.I.), Patna
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
CRIMINAL MISCELLANEOUS No.14590 of 2023 Arising Out of PS. Case No.-17 Year-2018 Thana- C.B.I CASE District- Patna ====================================================== Ananda Chandra Ghadai @ Anand Chand Ghadai S/O Late Sribatsha Ghadai R/O Plot No. 1266, Shriram Nagar, Old Town, P.S- Lingraj, District- Khorda, State- Odisha (Bhubaneshwar), ... ... Petitioner/S
Versus
The Central Bureau Of Investigation (C.B.I.), Patna Bihar ... ... Opposite Party/s ====================================================== Appearance :
For the Petitioner/s :
Mr.Uday Pratap Singh For the Opposite Party/s :
Mr.Nivedita Nirvikar ====================================================== CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE SUNIL KUMAR PANWAR ORAL ORDER 02-08-2023 Heard learned counsel for the petitioner, learned counsel for the C.B.I. and learned APP for the State. The petitioner has prayed for regular bail in a case registered for the offence punishable under sections 120B r/w 409, 420, of the Indian Penal Code and Sections, 13(2) r/w, 13(I)(c)(d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. As per prosecution, this case is one of the several infamous Srijan Scam cases in which, huge amount was deposited in the account of Srijan and misappropriated by accused persons. Allegation against this petitioner is that he passed two cheques for amount of Rs. 1,43,75,000/- and 31,75,000/- respectively had been issued by the DDC,
2/4 Bhagalpur and Director, DRDA, Bhagalpur in favour of Block Development Officer, Kahalagaon, Bhagalpur. Investigation further revealed that the said cheques waere processed through the pay-in slip No. 95682 dt. 31.03.2008, of Bank of Baroda filled in the name of Srijan Mahila Vikas Sahyog Samiti Ltd. Sabour and signed Manorama Devi and for crediting in the account of Srijan maintained at main branch of Bank of Baroda, Bhagalpur. The maker of the transaction related to above mentioned cheques was Arjun Das and the checker of the above said transaction was petitioner Anand Chand Ghadai.
Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner is innocent and has committed no offence. The petitioner is not named in the FIR rather his name transpires during the course of investigation and C.B.I. has submitted charge sheet against several accused persons including the petitioner. The petitioner has been implicated in the present case only because he has passed a cheque bearing no. 255902 dt. 24.03.2008 of Bank of Baroda. It is also submitted vide para 9, 10 & 11 of the petition that the cheque in question was in the name of B.D.O. Kahalgaon and deposited in the Bank of Baroda along with the deposit slip of SMVSSL and the
3/4 petitioner has cleared the cheque in question on the basis of deposit slip attached with the same. It is also stated that District Administration, Bhagalpur has taken a decision to open their account in the banking unit of SMVSSL and accordingly, an order was passed by then D.D.C. namely, Smt. Usha Varghes, wherein directions were issued to all B.D.Os including B.D.O., Kahalgaon to open account in SMVSSL, Sabour, Bhagalpur. Since the banking unit of Srijan was not having the 'banking clearance facility' therefore, SMVSSL had opened some accounts in banks for getting clearance facility and accordingly, the office bearers of SMVSSL used to deposit cheques for its credit. After completion of investigation, it seems that no any material suggests the complicity of the petitioner.
The petitioner has simply discharged his duties assigned to him and entire allegations leveled against him are baseless. Other co-accused persons of this case have already been granted bail by different coordinate Benches of this court which is evident from Annexure-4 series. Moreover, the petitioner is languishing in judicial custody since 30.11.2022.
Learned APP appearing for the state and learned counsel on behalf of C.B.I. have vehemently opposed the
4/4 prayer of regular bail.
Having heard learned counsel for the parties and considering the facts and circumstances of the case as well as custody of the petitioner, this court is inclined to enlarge him on bail. The above named petitioner is directed to be released on bail in connection with RC 17(S)/2018 giving rise to Spl. Case no. 10 of 2020 arising out of Kotwali (Bhagalpur) P.S. Case No. 662 of 2017 on furnishing bail bond of Rs.10,000/- (ten thousand) with two sureties of the like amount each to the satisfaction of learned Special Judge C.B.I.-II, Patna. (Sunil Kumar Panwar, J) Manishkumar/- U T