A Special Court in Mumbai has rejected the anticipatory bail application of Neil Somaiya, son of BJP leader Kirit Somaiya, regarding collection of funds in 2013 for warship INS Vikrant.
On Monday, a Mumbai sessions court denied anticipatory bail application filed by Kirit Somaiya in connection with the alleged misappropriation of funds worth more than Rs 57 crore registered by the Mumbai Police.
Kirit Somaiya and his son Neil, who were named the accused in the case, had sought pre-arrest bail from the Session Court apprehending arrest.
The case against the father-son duo has been filed based on a complaint lodged by a 53-year-old former Army man at the Trombay police station in suburban Mankhurd. The complaint alleged that Somaiya, Neil and others had collected funds by setting up donation boxes in various locations of the city.
According to the complainant, he had given donations to Somaiya for saving INS Vikrant and the BJP leader had collected more than Rs 57 crore for the purpose. However, instead of depositing the amount with the Maharashtra Governor’s secretary office, Somaiya had misappropriated the funds, the complainant alleged.
In January 2014, the ship was sold through an online auction and scrapped in November that year.
Kirit and Neil Somaiya have been booked under Indian Penal Code Sections 406 (criminal breach of trust), 420 (cheating) and 34 (common intention).
Additional Sessions Judge R.N. Rokade, while refusing pre-arrest bail to Kirit Somaiya, said there were pictures to show he collected money in the name of saving the decommissioned aircraft carrier from getting dismantled, but the same was not deposited with the Governor’s office.