Face2News/Chandigarh
Supreme Court of India has denied anticipatory bail to Sanjeev Kumar, the key accused in a high profile case involving the alleged defrauding of farmers to the tune of approximately Rs. 20 crores. The case has garnered popularity on the social media platforms after the heated road blocked by the farmers on the Mansa Bathinda Highway after the bail was dismissed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court. As a repercussion the SHO, Maur was also placed under suspension.
Giving more information in this regard, Advocate, Sh. Inderpreet Singh Sohal who is fighting the case from the farmers’ side along with Advocate Ravinder Singh Maur informed that the case involved key accused Sanjeev Kumar and his accomplices who duped over 150 innocent farmers under the guise of a fraud plot allocation scheme. Sohal stated that such fraudulent activities are taking place across the State and police action is conspiciously absent.
Sohal and Maur stated that the accused reportedly collected substantial sums from farmers, promising them plots in a soon-to-be-developed colony in Maur Mandi, Bathinda district. It was apprised that Kumar has links with senior IPS officers and other political bigwigs due to which he has been putting the complainant under serious threat and pressure.
(SUBHEAD)According to the FIR, the accused collected varying amounts from different farmers, ranging from Rs. 3 lakhs to Rs. 37 lakhs, under the pretence of securing them plots at concessional rates in the name of LOI. The courts' decisions have been welcomed by farmer unions and activists who have long been campaigning for stricter action against those exploiting the agricultural community. Accused Sanjeev Kumar took advantage of years of trust gained among farmers as a commission agent and delayed the allotment of plots on the pretext of covid and later denied it completely.
The advocates informed that as the legal process continues, it remains to be seen whether this will lead to swift justice for the affected farmers and set a precedent for handling similar cases in the future. The farmers are hopeful that the money trapped in this scam will soon be released after the intervention of Supreme Court of India.
Giving details regarding the case background, Sohal said that the legal battle began in the lower courts and made its way to the Punjab and Haryana High Court, where Justice Rajesh Bhardwaj heard the anticipatory bail plea. Despite being represented by senior counsel Mr. A.P.S. Deol, former Advocate General of Punjab, Kumar's application was rejected after being opposed by Sohal and Maur. The court noted the gravity of the allegations and the need for custodial interrogation to further the investigation.
Undeterred, the accused approached the Supreme Court, where his bail petition was again opposed by Sohal and Maur. However, the apex court bench, comprising Justice B.V. Nagarathna and Justice Nongmeikapam Kotiswar Singh, upheld the High Court's decision, effectively denying Kumar's plea to avoid arrest.
