The Kashmir Dialogues
JAMMU, Jammu 01: Special Judge Anticorruption Jammu Haq Nawaz Zargar today rejected the bail application of Jatinder Singh, Branch Manager, who was arrested by the Crime Branch in multi-crore loan scam.
After hearing APP Mohd Amir–al-Mansoor for the Crime Branch, the Special Judge observed, “if the applicant is released on bail now, it is likely to prejudice the investigation which is being carried out. It is not possible for the court to monitor the sources of communication of the accused and to control his conversations with other co-accused particularly Mohd Safeer who is absconding”.
“The huge trail of money and its recovery is yet to be established. Some more arrests are likely to be made in future as investigating agency had already brought in the notice of this court that the sanction under Section 17-A of the Prevention of Corruption Act had already been obtained viz-a-viz other bank employees also who had served In the concerned branches”, the Special Judge said.
“Obviously, exercising the power of discretion for grant of bail in favour of the accused/applicant at this stage would prejudice the investigation. The investigation is going on to bring to surface the larger conspiracy and the involvement of some more bank officials is likely to surface in coming days and in such circumstances, the present accused do not deserve the concession of bail”, the court said.
While rejecting bail application, Special Judge Anticorruption observed, “the banking system in India has its great significance particularly for the middle and lower strata of the society. The deposits with the bank are the trust which comes out of the hard earned money from the pockets of the common man.
The bank officials owe a divine duty to uphold that trust and invest the same adequately and properly, so that the depositors will get their due in time. If the banking officials started eating the very vital of the deposits, than it is not possible to run the economy of the state smoothly”.
The court also brought to the notice of IGP Crime that in economic offences/scams usually lengthy investigations is a normal affair and is not only a test of investigating prowess but also his/her test of patience. So proper care must be taken while constituting a SIT and its member or appointing Investigating Officer.
M S Nazki
