Hazare discharged in misappropriation case

Pune, July 13: A court here has discharged social activist Anna Hazare in a case of alleged misappropriation of funds in the Hind Swaraj Trust, headed by him.

The Chief Judicial Magistrate N T Ghadge issued the order on Tuesday, discharging Hazare after the complainant Hemant Patil withdrew the case, Harshad Nimbalkar and Milind Pawar, both lawyers who represented the Gandhian, told PTI today.

Patil cited Hazare's age, ailments and also "enhanced status in the society" as reasons for withdrawing the case filed in 2005.

Patil alleged that Hazare had misappropriated a sum of Rs 2.2 lakh from the funds of the trust to facilitate celebration of his 61st birthday at his native village of Ralegan-Siddhi.

Hazare had denied the charge saying he did not believe in celebrating birthday and all the trust money had been accounted for.

PTI