Court Grants Conditional Bail to TikTok Star Maulana Khan in Rs 1.16 Crore Fraud Case
Pune:
In the fraudulent practices in the car-buying and selling business of Saad Motors, the TikTok star, Maulana, alias Abdul Rashid, alias Miftahi Qalandar Khan, had cheated 9 people of Rs 1.16 crore by promising them 2 to 3 percent returns per month if they invested in it. In this case, the Supreme Court had earlier rejected the anticipatory bail of Khan. However, he again filed an application for anticipatory bail in the district court.
This time, he received an anticipatory bail on a conditional basis. Additional Sessions Judge A.S. Waghmare has given this decision. The order said that the court is not a recovery agent. However, in the interest of the investors in the MPID Act, mere punishment to the accused is not enough. Therefore, the accused should deposit the amount of Rs 1 crore 16 lakh 93 thousand 500 involved in this fraud in the court in four instalments.
Along with this, the court also approved the anticipatory bail application of Abdul Rashid Qalandar Khan and Sonibar alias Sauda Rafiq Khan on a surety bond of Rs 1 lakh each on a conditional basis.
While granting them an anticipatory bail, the court order stated that the Kondhwa Police should apply this bond only after Abdul Rashid deposits Rs 30 lakh in the court. Further, after being released on bail, he should deposit Rs 1 crore 16 lakh 93 thousand 500 in the court in equal instalments over the next four months. The accused need to appear at the police station every Monday between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. until the chargesheet is filed.
The court order also said that the accused should not tamper with the evidence, and he should not put pressure on the witnesses. He should cooperate with the police in the investigation. If the conditions are violated during this period, the bail application will be cancelled.
While granting bail to Sonibar on a surety bond of Rs 1 lakh, the court asked him to pay Rs 20 lakh. After the bail is granted, an order has been issued to deposit Rs 20 lakh in two to three instalments by the end of January 2025.
During the hearing on the bail application, Advocate Amey Sirsikar, on behalf of the plaintiff, argued that the Supreme Court has also rejected the bail application of the accused. If the accused is released on bail, the government and the investors will have no option to recover the money. The investors will be deprived of justice. For this, the rejection of the accused’s bail is necessary for justice and recovery. Accepting the arguments of the plaintiff’s lawyers, the court has ordered the deposit of Rs 1 crore 16 lakh involved in the fraud in the court.
