Housing scam: Court rejects state’s appeal against acquittal of 61 people

A sessions court has rejected an appeal filed by the Maharashtra government, challenging an order of a magistrate, acquitting 61 people of various charges such as fraud and fabricating records in a multi-crore housing scam.

Most of those involved in the case were employees of the City and Industrial Development Corporation, an infrastructure agency of the state government, the state secretariat and builders.

“Having considered the facts and circumstances of the matter and evidence on record, it cannot be gathered that the trial court has not discharged its duty in conducting the matter fairly,” Sessions Judge AS Bhaisare observed.

A copy of the order was released by the court on Tuesday. The sessions court noted that the trial judge had rightly appreciated the evidence on record with sound reasons.

“There may be lacuna on the part of investigating officer, while conducting probe. But this is not sufficient to hold the guilt of the accused for the alleged offence,” the judge said.

“I found no merit in the appeal to interfere with the finding of the trial judge as it is based on sound reasons in consonance with the evidence on record. Hence, I record my findings to all points in the negative,” he said.