HC allows ex-MPSC chairman to operate 4 of total 9 bank accounts

Mumbai, Apr 9 (UNI) The Bombay High Court today allowed former Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) chairman Shashikant Karnik, indicted in the 1999 MPSC recruitment scam, to operate four of total nine bank accounts that were sealed by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) in 2002.

The ACB had sealed nine different bank accounts held by Karnik and his family members soon after his arrest.

A Division Bench of Justices D G Deshpande and Nishita Mhatre directed the Karniks to operate four of the nine sealed accounts.

Assistant Public Prosecutor D S Mhaispurkar told the court the ACB had not passed any formal orders with respect to those accounts and clarified the agency had no objection to allow the petitioner to operate thEse accounts.

Appearing for Karnik, senior Counsel C J Sawant, alongwith Advocate Samir Vaidya, contended with respect to remaining five accounts, the agency had not followed proper procedure under section 102 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), while sealing bank accounts of the accused persons.

They pointed out the investigation officer had not given immediate information of the sealing to his superiors and concerned court, as obligatory under the section.

The court will pass the order with regards to remaining five bank accounts on April 13.

UNI