Multi-crore contract on fake certificate
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 19: High Court has directed the Crime Branch to take coercive measures for securing the presence of Dr Sagar Shanti Lal Ghadage (representative of Nanded Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) before the Investigating Officer in FIR relating to obtaining of contract for sterilization of stray dogs on fake experience certificate.
The case was registered on November 1, 2018 on the complaint of Animal Welfare Activist Hem Lata Karki wherein the complainant had alleged that JMC awarded multi-crore contract for sterilization of stray dogs in favour of Dr Sagar Shanti Lal Ghadage on the basis of a fabricated/false experience certificate.
When the petition filed by Dr Sagar Shanti Lal Ghadage came up for hearing, Advocate Rajneesh Oswal appearing for Crime Branch Jammu submitted that despite the directions of the court dated August 27, 2019 the petitioner has not appeared before the Investigating Officer and the non-appearance of the petitioner is delaying the investigation.
Advocate Oswal further submitted that on the last date of hearing Advocate Gagan Basotra appearing for the petitioner had assured that the petitioner will be available in first week of September 2019 and he will join the investigation.
Advocate Oswal said that since the matter is pending before the court as such the Crime Branch did not take recourse to coercive measures.
Advocate Sheikh Shakeel Ahmed appearing for complainant Hem Lata Karki submitted that petitioner obtained multi-crore contract for sterilization of stray dogs on the basis of a fake experience certificate and officers/officials of JMC were in connivance with the petitioner.
After considering the submissions of both the sides, Justice Tashi Rabstan after expressing displeasure over the conduct of the petitioner, directed Crime Branch Jammu that they are at liberty to take coercive measures for securing the presence of Dr Sagar Shanti Lal Ghadage for the purposes of investigation. The court also directed Advocate Rajneesh Oswal to file the updated status of the investigation before the next date of hearing.
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