No relief for manager in harassment case: Thane Sessions Court

Mumbai: The Thane sessions court has recently rejected the anticipatory bail application of the manager, Santosh More, of a credit co-operative, New Satara Patpedhi, who was allegedly guilty of harassing Vashi-based, Sitaram Potbhare. Potbhare had borrowed a loan of Rs 5 lakh but had failed to pay the second installment of the debt. The harassment allegedly caused the borrower to hang himself to death in October this year, after which the Vashi police registered a case to probe the manager’s abetment to the suicide.

While rejecting the anticipatory bail application, the court observed that a prima facie case was made out against Mr More and the police required more time to complete their investigation. Additional Sessions judge of Thane, S.C. Khalipe, was hearing Mr More’s application, in which the former stated that the deceased, Sitaram Potbhare, had borrowed Rs 5 lakh from his pat-pedhi but could not pay the second installment of Rs 10,000. On October 7 this year, Mr More, along with others went to the house of the deceased to recover the installment. Mr More further said that it was a part of his duty to go his house and ask for the money; he did not harass or abuse the deceased.

Mr More argued thatfour members from Potbhare’s family had died in a similar manner and alleged that it was the family’s modus operandi to commit suicide and to implicate others to avoid paying loan. Mr More said that he is ready to co-operate in the investigation but he should not be sent to the police custody.

Navi Mumbai police has submitted a report which mentions that the deceased had returned Rs 1 lakh to the accused before the loan was sanctioned and had also paid 10 per cent to two middlemen.