The Lucknow bench of Allahabad High Court has recently granted bail to former IPS officer Arvind Sen in connection with a multi-crore animal husbandry scam case.
The bench stated in its order that, “This payment of Rs 20 lakh would not have any bearing in the trial as it is a condition precedent for enlarging the accused-applicant on bail.”
The bench of Justice DK Singh passed the order, for allowing the bail application of Sen, a 2013 batch IPS officer who got retired and also languishing in jail since January 27, 2021.
The bench observed that, “Arvind Sen was a DIG-rank officer when the alleged offense was committed. The draft of Rs 20 lakh has been accepted by the advocate Romit Seth on behalf of the complainant.”
Therefore, the high court observed that the role of Sen is very much different from that of co-accused Ashish Rai, who posed as animal husbandry department’s director, adding that the former police officer never visited the secretariat.
Manjit Singh Bhatia (Indore-based businessman) lodged an FIR with the Hazratganj police station alleging that he had been cheated of ₹9.72 crore which was paid to the accused as reduced money for availing the contract of government for the supply of wheat, sugar, and flour and pulses worth ₹292 crore.
However, the counsel of the retired police officer submitted in the court that only Rs 10 lakh was sent to Sen’s account.
During the hearing, the bench asked Arvind Sen’s lawyer to get a bank draft of Rs 20 lakh in favour of Bhatia. Where on Wednesday, the complainant’s lawyer accepted the payment on his behalf after which the bench granted bail to Sen.
A total of 17 persons have been arrested in the case. Four of them, including Sen, have been granted bail.
