DAVID GEORGE Vs. STATE OF KERALA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This bail application is filed under Sec. 439 of the Code of Criminal Procedure seeking regular bail.

(2.) This bail application is submitted by the accused No.5 in Crime No.987 of 2022 registered by Koipuram Police Station, Pathanamthitta. The offences alleged against the petitioner are under Ss. 420 read with Sec. 34 of the Indian Penal Code and also under Ss. 5 read with Ss. 23, 25(1) and 3 read with Sec. 21(2)(3) of the Banning of Unregulated Deposit Schemes Act.

(3.) The allegation against the petitioner and other accused in the above crime is that the accused persons collected huge amounts from the respective de facto complainants with a promise to return the same with a high interest rate. However, they neither provided the returns as offered, and the amount was also not refunded. Various complaints were submitted by a large number of persons against the accused persons, and crimes were registered accordingly. It is pointed out that the petitioner has been in custody since 11/1/2023 in connection with some other crimes, even though the formal arrest in all these cases was recorded on 3/2/2023.