Karnataka HC rejects bail for UP man accused of cheating 15 people across India

BENGALURU: The Karnataka High Court rejected anticipatory bail for Anupkumar Chodhari, an accused from Uttar Pradesh who allegedly cheated 15 people from different states after receiving lakhs of rupees from them on the pretext of impersonating them as to admit members of the railway board. Justice S. Vishwajith Shetty said, “I am of the view that he (Chodhari) is not entitled to the relief sought in this petition.”

In these circumstances, while the present petition filed under Section 438 of the CrPC is legally admissible, I am of the view that his prayer made in this petition is likely to be rejected on the merits of the case and taking into consideration the criminal antecedents of the petitioner.”

Chodhari approached the High Court in connection with the complaint lodged by S Muniapp at Vidhana Soudha police station. The prosecutor submitted that the plaintiff was a historian and 15 similar cases were registered against him in different states.

The petitioner is currently in custody for a crime registered by the Kanti Police in Ayodhya district of Uttar Pradesh. The trial court had issued an arrest warrant against him in this case, while such arrest warrants have been issued by various courts across the country for similar offenses. The pre-trial detention interrogation is required. He could not claim equality on the ground that accused number 2, who is a woman, was released on bail, he argued.