Bombay HC grants anticipatory bail to doctor couple accused of defrauding 5 people of Rs 41 lakh
Pune: The Bombay High Court has granted anticipatory bail to a doctor and his wife, who are accused of defrauding five individuals of Rs 41 lakh since 2022. The couple was booked by the Pimpri Chinchwad police for allegedly promising these individuals commercial spaces in their multi-specialty hospital at Dehu Road to set up pharmacy and pathology lab outlets, but failing to deliver the same.
The Dehu Road police registered an FIR against the doctor couple accusing them of cheating and criminal breach of trust under Sections 420 and 406 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) on August 10th. The couple fearing their arrest approached the Vadgaon Maval court to secure anticipatory bail, but their request was rejected. They then approached the High Court seeking relief.
Also Read: Delhi Court grants bails to doctor couple accused under POCSO Act
On November 14, 2024, the Bombay High Court bench, led by Justice Manish Pitale, noted that the documents highlighted that the transactions between the informant and the applicants (doctor couple) took place in December 2022. However, the FIR was registered after an inordinate delay on August 8, 2024.
Anticipatory bail is a legal provision that allows a person to be released on bail even before they are arrested. Section 438 of the Criminal Procedure Code governs anticipatory bail. In this case, the Bombay High Court’s decision to grant anticipatory bail was based on the fact that the accusations seemed to revolve around a commercial dispute and were not criminal.
