Prima facie evidence to show Darekar's complicity: Court

In a detailed order rejecting the anticipatory bail plea of Pravin Darekar, MLC and opposition leader in the Maharashtra legislative council, a special court has said he was a direct beneficiary of the alleged offence and there is prima facie material to show his complicity.

- Rebecca Samervel

Mumbai: The court noted Rs 25,750 was paid to him in cash for labour work in 2017. The prosecution had alleged he in fact was active at the assembly session in Nagpur during the relevant period.

While Darekar’s plea was rejected on Friday, the detailed order copy was made available on Saturday. On Friday, the court granted him interim relief from arrest until Tuesday.

An FIR was filed against Darekar on March 14, accusing him of forging certain documents to become a member of Pratidnya Labour Cooperative Society. Opposing his plea, special public prosecutor Pradeep Gharat had submitted that when he was contesting the council polls in 2016, Darekar filed an affidavit claiming he was an independent businessman and there was is nothing to show he was a labourer.