Mohammad Arif Malik v. State of Maharashtra Thr. Police Station Officer Wadi Nagpur
Case brief
What is this about?
Anticipatory bail rejected; economic offence; custodial interrogation required. Mohammad Arif Malik v. State of Maharashtra, P.S. Wadi, Nagpur, Crime No. 360/2023, Sections 408, 420, 465, 468, 471 r/w. Section 34 IPC (cheating, forgery, criminal breach of trust, common intention). Employees of informant's firms 'Prime Logistics' and 'Prime Cargo Movers' allegedly created fake documents and bogus firms and diverted Rs. 7,73,27,496/- including employees' and employer's PF and ESIC using forged DSC signatures and passwords. Applicant's bank transactions exceeded Rs. 22 crores (I.T. reports showed transactions of Rs. 22,88,93,067/-) against income tax paid of only Rs. 35,00,000/-. Coram: Urmila Joshi-Phalke, J. Companion application APPP No. 179 of 2025 allowed permitting the complainant's counsel to assist the prosecution.
What did the court decide?
Anticipatory bail application of Mohammad Arif Malik (ABA No. 21 of 2025) rejected - custodial interrogation held necessary; separately, the complainant's application (APPP No. 179 of 2025) was allowed and disposed of, granting permission to engage counsel to assist the prosecution.