Chandigarh: The Punjab and Haryana high court has restrained judicial officers posted in the Rohtak sessions division from entertaining any bail applications in a multi-crore real estate fraud case, criticising the local police for allegedly attempting to shield the “real culprits”.Justice N S Shekhawat passed the order recently on an anticipatory bail petition filed by a realtor, Subhash Gupta, in connection with a cheating FIR registered at IMT police station, Rohtak, on May 27.The court observed that real estate developers frequently siphon off funds from innocent buyers while projecting systematic frauds as isolated contractual disputes.The bench noted that the Supreme Court and the high court had repeatedly expressed displeasure over investigations allegedly being conducted for the benefit of builders/developers involved in economic frauds affecting numerous investors.The court said, “Apparently, the investigating officer was trying to help the accused, directors of M/s DHL Infratech Private Limited and Gupta Property Developers, Shivji.”The HC was informed that the investigation was now being conducted by a Special Investigation Team headed by Gaurav Rajpurohit, superintendent of police, Rohtak.It was further informed that Kuldeep Kumar Tahlan, director, DHL Infratech Private Limited, and Gurvinder Jeet Singh, an employee of Gupta Property Developers, Shivji, had been arrested. While Tahlan’s bail petition was allowed, Gurvinder Jeet Singh’s bail plea was dismissed by the courts at Rohtak.The bench noted that co-accused Ravinder Mor, Manjit Kumar and Joginder Singh, all directors of DHL Infratech Private Limited, and Siddhant, its authorised signatory, had been granted interim anticipatory bail by the same presiding officer who had dismissed the petitioner’s bail plea. The court was also informed that these four accused were involved in other scams.Regarding petitioner Subhash Gupta, the bench noted that he was a partner of Gupta Property Developers, Shivji, and had not so far been granted interim anticipatory bail by the high court. His arrest had instead been stayed on his assurance that he would return the entire amount invested by victims who had not been offered possession, along with interest at six per cent per annum.Observing that local police were “hesitating in taking action” four months after the FIR was filed, the court directed the Haryana govt to appoint a senior IPS officer to head the investigation and submit a status report of investigation on or before the next date of hearing. The next hearing is on Oct 28.The court instructed its registry to immediately forward the order to the district and sessions judge, Rohtak, for strict compliance.
