Kolkata, Feb 9 (IANS) A court in West Bengal Monday allowed the CBI plea for adding a stringent section of the law dealing with criminal breach of trust by a public servant or a banker, merchant or agent and carrying a maximum sentence of a life term into a case of the multi-crore Saradha scam.
While the Central Bureau of Investigation in its charge sheet had mentioned section 409 of the Indian Penal Code, the trial court hearing the Saradha Realty case had erroneously not taken cognisance under the section.
There were noisy scenes and pandemonium after Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (Alipore) Haradhan Mukherjee admitted there was an "error" on the part of the court and sought to rectify it.
A battery of lawyers defending state Transport Minister Madan Mitra - arrested in the scam- opposed the move citing the court had no power to do so. They were also infuriated over the court hearing the matter despite the Bar Association deciding to cease work for the day following the death of a senior lawyer.
The CBI had made the prayer of congisance under section 409 after then Trinamool Rajya Sabha member Srinjoy Bose Feb 4 got bail after remaining behind bars for 75 days. It contended that if the section is not included in the cognizance order, then Mitra - in custody till date - might be also granted bail like Bose.
Mitra has already applied for bail before a higher court which is expected to come up for hearing Feb 11 when the statutory period of 60 days for the prosecution to file the charge sheet is completed.
The court proceedings remained disrupted for a few hours with the lawyers led by advocate and Trinamool leader Baishanor Chatterjee shouting slogans and accusing the judge of being biased.
"The court has no right to rectify its own order suo motu. The decision of court is reflective that it is biased against our client and trying to curtail his rights," said Chatterjee.
The judge finally made the order allowing the inclusion of section 409 at 10.45 p.m. working way beyond the usual court hours.
With the offence carrying a punishment of 10 years or life imprisonment, the CBI will now get an additional period of 30 more days to file the charge sheet as the statutory period to file the same is 90 days for offences that are punishable with imprisonment with 10 years or more.
Iran-India: Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister praised India, and made many serious allegations against America and Western countries
Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani met External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in Delhi today. During this, he discussed with the news agency ANI the relations between the two countries.
Return of Jio's old plan: Disney Plus Hotstar's annual subscription will be available for Rs 499, daily 2GB data, and unlimited calling free
Reliance Jio has given another new year gift to its customers. It has relaunched the Rs 499 plan. In this plan, customers are being given an annual subscription to Disney Plus Hotstar. In December
IND vs AUS: Jasprit Bumrah benefited from Mohammed Siraj's trick; Kangaroo team was stunned
It is very difficult for a match to take place between India and Australia and nothing unusual happens. At present, the Boxing Day Test match is being played between India and Australia at the
Coronavirus Updates: Corona cases decreased for the third consecutive day in the country, with about 1 thousand cases registered in 24 hours
Corona cases are continuously decreasing in the country. The Health Ministry said that 1,046 cases of corona infection have been reported in the last 24 hours. At the same time, four people also died
'There is friendship with China but...', Muizzu's tone changed as soon as he came to India, gave a strong message to the dragon through gestures.
Maldives President Mohammed Muizzu and Maldives First Lady Sajida Mohammed arrived in New Delhi on Sunday on their first bilateral visit to India. During this, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar
Research: Increased psychiatric risk due to corona, seizures are also occurring, revealed in research on more than 1.2 million patients around the world
Like the coronavirus, now there is a change in the risks associated with it. Not only in India but many countries of the world, there is an increased risk of neurological and psychiatric-related
12 Pakistani arrested in Italy: wanted to enter Israel via Europe, suspected of plotting terrorist attacks
Pakistani fundamentalists are plotting to enter Israel through Europe. Italian intelligence agencies have disclosed this. Twelve Pakistani nationals have been arrested from Italy's port city, Genea.
President Election: More discussion of Yashwant Sinha's defeat than Murmu's victory, know where was the mistake in three points?
Draupadi Murmu will be the next President of the country. It was only after three rounds of counting that he took a decisive lead over the opposition candidate Yashwant Sinha. He was declared the
Virat-Anushka: Virat-Anushka returned to Mumbai after Bengaluru accident, angry users said - it doesn't matter to them
Cricketer Virat Kohli has won his first IPL trophy. He is being discussed everywhere. When Virat Kohli won the IPL trophy, he became emotional. His wife Anushka Sharma hugged him. Videos of all these
Nautpa is over, now waiting for rain: It will rain in Delhi-NCR, IMD said - Clouds will rain in North India in the last week of June
The sky is cloudy in the Delhi-NCR region. According to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), light rain is expected in many parts of Delhi-NCR. The Southwest Monsoon has reached Kerala, Tamil
