Enforcement inspector gets bail

May 11: The Special Court trying cases under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, today granted bail to Mohammed Iqbal Abdul Aziz Kazi,...

May 11: The Special Court trying cases under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, today granted bail to Mohammed Iqbal Abdul Aziz Kazi, an enforcement inspector who was arrested while accepting bribe on May 8.

Designated Judge S P Kukday released the accused on a personal bond of Rs 3,000 and surety of like amount to be furnished up to May 26. The bail was granted on two conditions; first that he will report to the Anti-Corruption Bureau ACB between 11 am to 2 pm every day up to May 19; and second that he would not tamper with witnesses or evidence. Advocate V R Patil argued for the prosecution and Majid Memon defended the accused.

Kazi was arrested under the the provisions of Prevention of Corruption Act after a trap was laid to catch him demanding and accepting bribe from a resident in a MHADA building at Worli. The resident, Kanji Jethabhai Nisar, lodged the complaint against Kazi. Nisar was staying in a room in the BDD chawl, Worli, which was originally owned by Nanji Kuvarji. After the latter8217;s death, his grandson claimed the property in 1994 in an application to the state government. Consequently, MHADA initiated inquiry proceedings against Nisar. At this point, Kazi, who was the enforcement inspector working under the Competent Authority, Greater Mumbai, told Nisar about the 8220;price for a favourable order8221;. On May 7, Kazi went to Nisar8217;s home and demanded Rs 65,000. Nisar paid him rs 10,000 as the first instalment. As per the case of the prosecution, Kazi then threatrened him with an 8220;unfavourable8221; eviction order if the rest of the amount was not paid. He had brought the 8220;favourable8221;order along with him on the firstvisit.

Unable to meet Kazi8217;s demands, Nisar lodged a complaint with the ACB and arranged a trap at his residence. Kazi came to the house and was caught immediately by the police. After the panchnama and recording of the statemant of the accused, the money was recovered by the ACB. Interestingly, Kazi stated that he had taken the money for his superior, which is the Competent Authority.

He was produced before the Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate N M Gosavi, who refused the bail application and remanded Kazi to judicial custody up to May 23.