Chandigarh Housing Board employee gets bail in cheating case

Tribune news service

Chandigarh, July 8

The District Court has granted bail to Surinder Kumar, an employee of the Chandigarh Housing Board (CHB), who was arrested by the police for allegedly cheating a man of Rs22.25 lakh.

The police arrested Surinder after registering an FIR on the complaint of Kuldeep Kumar Luthra, a resident of Modern Housing Complex (MHC), Mani Majra, on June 19, 2020.

In his complaint to the police, Luthra alleged that Surinder took Rs22.25 lakh from him on the pretext of either sending his son abroad or getting him appointed at the CHB office. However, he failed to fulfil both promises even after receiving the payment over the past two years. Luthra said he had made the payment through cash and cheques.

While granting bail to the accused, Ajit Atri, Additional Sessions Judge, Chandigarh, said it would be a matter of trial as to whether the transaction between the parties was with regard to some loan or for some other purpose. The transaction is said to have been done in 2015-2016, but the FIR was registered recently.

The order further said there was no other case against the petitioner and counter allegations by the parties with regard to the nature of transaction should be a matter of trial. It would take some time for the investigation to complete and the trial to start and complete. The petitioner is in custody since June 19, 2020. No useful purpose would be served by keeping him behind the bars for indefinite period.

In view of the above, the bail application of the petitioner is allowed. The petitioner is ordered to be released on bail on furnishing a bail bond in sum of Rs30,000 with one surety to the satisfaction of the Duty Magistrate.

Luthra said Surinder came in his contact when he met him at the CHB office. He said the accused helped him in getting his house at the MHC transferred in his name.

Luthra said when he was admitted to the PGI for brain tumor, the accused met him and assured him of all help. Later, he allegedly took the money on the pretext of either getting an appointment for his son at the CHB office or sending him abroad, but he failed to fulfil the promise. Luthra alleged when he demanded his money, the accused gave him cheques for different amounts, but those were dishonoured.

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