'Hypocrites Looting Money From Innocent People' : Madhya Pradesh HC Denies Anticipatory Bail To Priest's Wife In Extortion Case
The single-judge bench stated that many hypocrites are looting money of innocent people in the name of religion from whom society should beware.
The Madhya Pradesh High Court at Indore Bench recently denied anticipatory bail to the wife of a religious priest in an extortion and criminal breach of trust case. The couple is accused of not returning money given to the priest for keeping them "in a safe manner" by a woman.
While passing the order, the bench of Justice Anil Verma said that nowadays, in society, many hypocrites are looting the money of innocent people in the name of religion.
"Such type of cheaters are stigma in the name of religion. The society should beware of such treacherous people," the judge said.
In the present case, the complainant alleged that she entrusted some golden and silver ornaments to the priest to safely keep them. However, the priest along with his wife mortgaged some of the ornaments in Muthoot Finance Corp and to a jeweler and did not return the aforesaid jewellery or any cash amount to the complainant.
For the purpose of the mortgage, the priest's wife was the witness in the promissory note.
The case was lodged for the commission of offence punishable under Section 386, 406, 120-B of the Indian Penal Code against the priest, his wife, and other accused.
Apprehending her arrest, the priest's wife moved a plea for pre-arrest bail before the high court. He claimed that she never signed any document of bank loan rather she was only a witness. She stated that she is only a housewife and had been falsely implicated in the instant case.
The single-judge bench held that although the promissory note was executed by the husband of the woman, it was signed by her as a witness.
"It is also gathered that the present applicant being a Gurumata and her husband being a religious priest misused their position and betrayed the complainant," the court stated.
Therefore, in view of the prima facie evidence available on record, the court refused to grant anticipatory bail to the woman.
Case Title: Lavina v. State of MP