Graft case: Actor Anuj Saxena fears same fate as Bansal

Anuj Saxena, TV actor and Chief Operating Officer of Mumbai-based Elder Pharmaceuticals, fears that he too would meet the same fate as that of Bansal, who with his entire family ended their lives, if he surrendered before the CBI.

However, Special CBI Judge Gurdeep Singh on Wednesday denied anticipatory bail to Saxena and directed him to surrender before the premier probe agency within 48 hours.

In his anticipatory bail plea, Saxena’s counsel said, “If I (Saxena) am in custody, my condition will be same as that of Bansal. Please grant me protection from arrest. I will cooperate in the investigation.”

At this, Special CBI Judge Gurdeep Singh said, “There are other persons also in custody in this case. Has everyone committed suicide? Everyone’s case differ from person to person. The CBI will take care of this.”

The CBI opposed Saxena’s plea, saying his custodial interrogation was required. “Let him surrender first,” public prosecutor KP Singh said, adding that the allegations against the actor were grave.

According to the CBI, Saxena had played a direct role in bribing Bansal to ensure that he did not order an SFIO inspection against his company on charges of illegal collection of Rs 175 crore from 24,000 investors, diversion of funds to companies abroad and not filing returns on time.

Saxena, known for roles in soaps ‘Kkusum’ and ‘Kumkum’, had sought the relief, saying he did not have a direct link with the case and there was only a disclosure statement of a co-accused.

The CBI claimed that an FIR was registered against Saxena, alleging that his company had bribed Bansal to ensure that he did not order an SFIO inspection.