The Allahabad High Court on Thursday granted interim bail to an accused in misappropriating funds from a trust maintained by Arunima Sinha, world’s first female amputee to scale Mount Everest.
The bail applications have been filed seeking bail under Sections 120B, 406, 409, 420, 467, 468, 471, 506 of the Indian Penal Code, in Sarojini Nagar Police Station, Lucknow, against her sister and brother-in-law, alleging that the two duped her of Rs 41,50,000 (in total) using forged documents and signature, and on requesting the applicant/accused to return her money, she was threatened with dire consequences.
The couple denied the allegations and submitted that the FIR filed against them is vague and the allegation of misappropriation is without any proof of transaction.
The complainant and the accused are close relatives. The case involves regarding alleged misappropriation of funds of a trust run by the complainant.
The counsel for the accused as well as the complainant submitted that there is likelihood of this matter getting settled, if it is referred to mediation and conciliation centre of this court.
The advocate for the accused further submitted that the accused may be enlarged on interim bail for a period of one-and-a-half month and during this time, they will strive to get the matter amicably settled through the process of mediation before this Court.
“Considering the aforesaid request of the counsels representing the parties, the accused-applicants are admitted on interim bail for a period of one-and-a-half month from the date of their respective release on furnishing personal bond and two sureties of like amount to the satisfaction of the trial court,”
-the court said.
The Court ordered that the complainant as well as the accused to deposit a sum of Rs 5,000 each before the Mediation and Conciliation Centre of this Court. The accused and the complainant have been directed to remain present before the Mediation Centre of this Court on February 10.
The Mediator is requested to conclude the mediation proceedings preferably within a period of one month and submit a report thereof, the court said. The bail application is fixed for further consideration on March 13.