Read Time: 03 minutes

Synopsis

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has recently granted bail to a person co-accused of allegedly duping around Rs 200 Crores of crop money of around 400 farmers of Meham village in Haryana.

A bench of Justice Jasgurpreet Singh Puri was informed by Advocate Archit Kaushik appearing for the accused that a bare perusal of the FIR would show that it is a totally vague case and even as per the allegations the matter is at the most a civil dispute between the parties which has been given a criminal flavour. 

The bench was hearing a bail application filed by Ankit Sharma, co-accused of duping around Rs 200 crores farmer's crop money. It has been alleged that the trader used to work as a middleman between the farmers and the market, the trader has been in the business of helping the farmers in selling their produces in the market for decades.

The FIR noted that "The businessman left the village suddenly on 08.06.2022 late night after taking crores of rupees from me and the farmers of my village and from the farmers and traders outside the village (whose list is attached)."

Kaushik had further argued that "the petitioner is a remote related relative of the commission agent against whom the allegations have been made." He had further submitted that there is nothing to show as to whether Sharma or the other co-accused have taken money with regard to some crop and of what year.

Case Title: Ankit Sharma Vs. State of Haryana