Occult practices: Bail denied to accused in Rs 2.40 crore fraud case

Pune The court has denied bail to Majid Usman Attar, who is accused of cheating a businessman of Rs 240 million under the pretext of occult rituals.

The decision was announced by PR Chaudhary, Additional Judge, who emphasised the serious impact of financial loss on both the affected person and his family.

Majid Usman Attar, along with several others, is alleged to have conspired to defraud the plaintiff by promising him high returns from investments in a fictitious import-export business.

The fraud took place between August 2020 and August 2022. During this period, the complainant, Sheikh Abdul Basit Abdul Latif, invested Rs 2.40 crore without receiving anything in return. Similar cases totaling Rs 6.23 crore were registered at three other police stations.

Case details:

The Samarth police have filed cases under the Maharashtra Prevention and Elimination of Human Sacrifice and Other Inhuman, Evil and Aghori Practices and Black Magic Act against several persons, including Nadir Abdul Hussain Hasan Ali Naima Abadi, Roya alias Seema Nadir Naima Abadi, Maulana Shoaib Mainuddin Attar, Majid Usman Attar, Khalid Mainuddin Attar and Iram Shoaib Attar, all residents of Bopodi.

The case also concerns Section 3 of the Maharashtra Protection of Depositors (In Financial Establishments) Act, 1999. The scam took place between August 2020 and August 2022 in Rasta Peth. The complaint was filed by Sheikh Abdul Basit Abdul Latif, a resident of Kondhwa Khurd.

The accused, Maulana Shoaib and Nadir, are in the construction business. They allegedly conspired to deceive the complainant by promising high returns on investments in a non-existent import-export business. Sheikh believed them and invested Rs 2.40 crore over time but received no returns. Similar complaints were filed at three other police stations in the last four months, with the total fraud amounting to Rs 6.23 crore.

Court proceedings

The bail hearing of Majid Usman Attar was held in the court of Additional Sessions Judge PP Chaudhary. The bail plea was opposed by advocates Ameya Siriskar and Mahesh Zhanvar.

The court had previously refused to grant the defendant temporary release. The defendant is accused of having defrauded several victims together with others. Many investors rejected the application for bail.

Assistant Public Prosecutor Gehlot argued that the MPID Act was applicable in this case. The investigating officer, Assistant Police Inspector Dadasaheb Patil, informed the court that the investigation was still ongoing and more arrests were expected.

All the accused worked together and there is similar evidence against each of them. Therefore, Section 3 of the MPID Act is applicable in this case.

The court observed that there is sufficient evidence against the accused at this stage. Since the investigation is still ongoing and more arrests are likely, granting bail may affect the investigation. Therefore, Additional Sessions Judge PR Chaudhary rejected the bail application.