Legal Deception: Lawyer Denied Bail for Alleged Fraud Against Elderly Client
The Bombay High Court has denied anticipatory bail to lawyer Vinaykumar Ashok Khatu, accused of misleading a 74-year-old client with forged High Court orders in a property dispute. Previously arrested for impersonating an IAS officer, Khatu faces serious allegations of fabricating court documents to extract ₹2.57 crore from his elderly client, who believed her legal matters were being handled properly.
Justice RN Laddha, in his ruling, emphasized the necessity of custodial interrogation, stating, “The possibility of there being similarly circumstanced victims is eminent.” The allegations stem from claims made by the elderly informant, who stated that Khatu provided her with fraudulent High Court orders dated October 17, 2022, and December 12, 2022. It was only after consulting a new attorney that she discovered the orders were fake and her cases had never been listed for hearing.
Khatu’s defense argued that communications via WhatsApp did not explicitly mention any High Court orders and claimed the stay order in question originated from the sub-divisional officer of Alibaug. The defense also contended that the ₹65 lakh received by Khatu was legitimate, connected to a land deal and various legal expenses, and highlighted that he had been granted a general power of attorney by the informant, indicating a significant level of trust.
In contrast, the Additional Public Prosecutor presented evidence that Khatu misled the informant, redirecting the ₹2.57 crore into various accounts while falsely claiming to secure favorable legal outcomes. He referenced WhatsApp messages indicating Khatu’s involvement in fabricating the court documents and witness statements supporting the allegations.
The informant’s counsel also pointed out Khatu’s criminal history, which includes prior arrests for impersonating an IAS officer and falsely claiming to be associated with the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC).
The Court remarked that forging court orders is a grave violation that erodes public confidence in the legal system. It noted Khatu’s criminal background and the early stage of the investigation, concluding that granting him pre-arrest bail would hinder the investigation’s progress.
Advocate Pushpa Ganediwala, along with Advocates Amar Gharte and Taiyaba Kazi, represented Khatu, while Additional Public Prosecutor Yogesh Dabke appeared for the State. The informant was represented by Advocates Rizwan Merchant, Sanjana Pardeshi, Ramiz Shaikh, and Harshil Gandhi.
(With inputs from agency)
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