Bypassing panel, 42 kids shifted to Preet Mandir: CBI

Bypassing panel, 42 kids shifted to Preet Mandir: CBI

Asseem Shaikh, TNN, Aug 14, 2010, 12.22am IST

Tags:preet mandir|pandharpur|cbi|adoption racket

PUNE: Investigations conducted by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the inter country adoption racket has revealed that 42 children were directly transferred to Preet Mandir from an orphanage at Pandharpur bypassing child welfare committee.

CBI inspector S Bhattacharya made the statement in its remand report when Preet Mandir managing trusteeJoginder Singh Bhasin was produced before the special court, following expiry of his police custody remand on Friday.

According to the CBI, investigations have revealed that the children's were transferred to Preet Mandir from Navrange Balak Ashram in Pandharpur in 2009.

CBI said that the examination of witnesses have revealed that the direct transfer of children to other district is not permissible.

CBI has collected several bank statements of Preet Mandir and it has started scrutinising credit card statements of City Bank NA and American Express which was issued in the name of Bhasin and his family members for ascertaining the misappropriated amount.

Investigations have further revealed that Bhasin had purchased a necklace spinal ruby string with errings in 18 carets gold real diamond and ruby from Sultanjee Enterprises Pvt Ltd atNew Delhi on August 16, 2004 by using the American express debit card.

The credit bill of Rs 1.3 lakh was raised by the American Card Division.

It has been further revealed that payment of Rs 1.3 lakh was adjusted by debiting Preet Mandir trust account standing in the name of Balwant Kartar Anand Foundation at the Union Bank of India, Camp Branch, Pune on August 28, 2004.

The CBI has obtained copies of bills issued in the name of Bhasin of various five star hotels in which he and other persons had stayed as guests of Preet Mandir. The hotel bills were paid from the account of Preet Mandir.

An initial scrutiny of the bills have revealed that payments to the tune of several lakh of rupees were adjusted by debiting the Preet Mandir account at the Union Bank. The CBI will examine witnesses in this context.

The CBI report read that the investigations was on to find out the role of the other co-accused persons involved in the racket and other beneficiary who had benefited out of the misappropriated amount if any so as to ascertain the details of the conspiracy.

The CBI has charged Bhasin for not disclosing important facts pertaining to the investigations.

CBI Public ProsecutorVivek Saxena prayed to send Bhasin to judicial custody for 15 days as the investigations in the case was at an initial stage.

Special judge J D Kulkarni sent Bhasin to judicial custody till August 27.

However, Bhasin's lawyer Shrikant Shivade moved an application for releasing him on bail, but Saxena sought time for giving reply till Monday.

Shivade then prayed to release his client on interim bail.

According to Shivade leaving charges of forgery under section 467 of the Indian Penal Code, the other charges invoked against his client were bailable and triable by the magistrate court.

Shivade said that he was ready to furnish documents to prove that the charges levelled against Bhasin were false and malicious as the investigations in the case was not at an initial stage.

He submitted that Bhasin was suffering from various medical ailments and pleaded to release him on interim bail for obtaining treatment in a private hospital in the presence of a CBI official.

He feared that if his client was sent to the Yerawada central jail he may not survive as it was not well equipped with medical facilities to treat patients like Bhasin.

Saxena feared that Bhasin's release on interim bail will affect their investigations and he sought time till Monday for filing a detail reply to the bail application.

judge Kulkarni in its order observed that it was not a fit case for releasing Bhasin on interim bail considering the allegations against Bhasin.

The judge granted time to the CBI to reply to the bail plea till August 16.

Read more: Bypassing panel, 42 kids shifted to Preet Mandir: CBI - Pune - City - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/Bypassing-panel-42-kids-shifted-to-Preet-Mandir-CBI/articleshow/6307885.cms#ixzz0wYLEgwQu