Mumbai court asks jail authorities to consider protection for Uke brothers till they reach Nagpur post-bail

The Enforcement Directorate had arrested Nagpur-based lawyers Satish and Pradip Uke on March 31, 2022, in a money laundering case.

The court also noted the previous communication by the assistant commissioner of Navi Mumbai police regarding the security concerns that the brothers face. (File Photo)

Noting the apprehension of danger to the lives of two Nagpur-based lawyers, Satish and Pradip Uke, who are accused in a money laundering case, a special court in Mumbai directed the state prison department to consider their request for protection until they reach their home.

The special court had granted bail to the Ukes on October 7, more than three years after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested them in a money-laundering case.

“…considering the apprehension of danger to their life expressed by the accused after releasing them on bail while going to their home, it is necessary to direct the jail authority to consider the request of accused for providing proper police protection/security to the accused till they reached their home at Nagpur when they released on bail from the jail,” special judge R B Rote said in an order on October 29, made public on Saturday.

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In a plea before the court, the brothers had said there was a danger to their lives at “the hands of their rival party”, as well as by the police, claiming that they had made various complaints against them while they were in custody. They also cited communication by the Navi Mumbai Police, where security and safety concerns were raised between February to July 2025, to produce the Uke brothers in a Nagpur court.

The plea said that their home in Nagpur is at a distance of 1,000 km, and sought that security be provided to them till they reach home. The court noted that the ED had not filed a reply on this plea.

The court said that a previous high court ruling had observed that the security and safety of the person facing trial would be of paramount consideration. The court also noted the previous communication by the assistant commissioner of Navi Mumbai police regarding the security concerns that the brothers face.

The Ukes were arrested on March 31, 2022, with the ED alleging that the two were involved in generating proceeds of crime on the basis of false and forged documents of properties in Nagpur. The ED alleged that the proceeds were used to sell the land to project tainted money as untainted.

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While granting them bail, the court had said that without going into the merits of the case, the two can be granted statutory bail, as they have undergone more than half of the maximum punishment—seven years—under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, with the trial yet to begin.