A sessions court has rejected the successive bail application of ex-MLA Ramesh Kadam in a 2015 case of abusing his position as Chairman of Sahityaratna Lokshahir Annabhau Sathe Development Corporation (SLASDC) between 2012 and 2014 and misappropriating around Rs. 312 crores.
SLASDC was incorporated for uplifting backward classes by providing them with loans and so on. Kadam had sought bail claiming that he is innocent and framed in the case. He also claimed that he was not a public servant and was only appointed as its Chairman for three years. He pointed out further that he had already spent over six months in jail.
Special Judge RN Rokade said in the order of June 24 that he was a MLA, is a politically influential person and came to be appointed as Chairman of SLASDC. “Considering the status of the applicant, the possibility of influencing the witnesses cannot be ruled out. To add this, there is material to indicate that the applicant has violated Prison Rules and misbehaved while in judicial custody,” the court stated. Judge Rokade also considered his criminal antecedents and the manner in which he had misappropriated funds of the corporation, that he has not made a prima facie case to enlarge him on bail.
The court said that it is pertinent to note that SLASDC was incorporated with an object of economic upliftment of backward classes particularly Matang and its 12 subcastes by providing educational loans and providing margin money, etc.. “The applicant in collusion with co-accused misused and abused his position as Chairman of SLASDC and misappropriated an amount of Rs.312.26 crores of SLASDC. It appears from the material placed on record that the siphoning of funds is routed through dummy co operative societies, companies and other organizations controlled by the applicant or his associates…that the applicant has played a vital role and is the main beneficiary of the misappropriated funds of SLASDC,” the order read.
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