A special court in Mumbai has recently granted bail to former NCP MLA Ramesh Kadam in a case related to the misappropriation of funds in the Sahityaratna Lokshahir Annabhau Sathe Development Corporation (SLASDC) under the Maharashtra government.
However, Kadam will remain in custody due to his involvement in another ongoing case, for which he has been imprisoned since 2015.
The bail order was issued by special court judge RN Rokade on Friday and made available today on Saturday.
The SLASDC was established to provide financial assistance for the upliftment of backward classes.
Kadam, who served as the corporation’s chairman, was accused of conspiring with others and misappropriating funds through the creation of false documents, resulting in an unlawful diversion of approximately Rs 3,30,00,000.
A case was registered against Kadam and others under the Prevention of Corruption Act based on the information provided by the Parbhani police.
The primary case related to the scam was filed at the suburban Dahisar police station in 2015.
The court noted that Kadam had already been granted bail by the Bombay High Court in the main offense registered with the Dahisar police, involving similar allegations and a similar set of offenses.
The prosecution has not yet appealed against the high court’s order.
The court noted that “Having regard to the entire gamut of the circumstances, including the applicant was enlarged on bail in main offense registered with Dahisar police station and long incarceration in custody without trial, I am of the considered view that this is a fit case to enlarge the applicant on merit.”
