Former Amethi Nagar Panchayat chairperson Chandrama Devi faces judicial custody after being accused of property fraud involving the illegal transfer of a local trade leader's house during her tenure.
Key Points
- Former Amethi Nagar Panchayat chairperson Chandrama Devi has been jailed in a property fraud case.
- Devi is accused of fraudulently transferring a house during her time as chairperson.
- The court rejected her interim bail plea, and she has been admitted to the district hospital for treatment.
- The case originated from a complaint by a local trade leader alleging fraudulent property transfer.
- The defence claims Devi is falsely implicated due to political rivalry, arguing the chairperson doesn't issue the certificates in question.
A local court has sent former Amethi Nagar Panchayat chairperson Chandrama Devi to judicial custody in a fraud case and fixed March 30 for hearing her regular bail application, officials said.
Chandrama Devi has been admitted to the district hospital for treatment, they said.
According to lawyers, the court of in-charge District Judge Rakesh Pandey rejected her interim bail plea after hearing arguments from both sides.
Chandrama Devi, wife of district panchayat president Rajesh Agrahari (popularly known as Rajesh Masala), had surrendered before the court of ACJM (IV) Bhavya Srivastava on Thursday in compliance with directions of the high court.
Her bail plea was earlier rejected there, following which the matter was taken up by the district judge's court.
Her counsel Arvind Singh Raja argued for bail, citing illness and requesting medical treatment. The complainant's counsel Azizurrahman and District Government Counsel (Criminal) Ram Achal Mishra opposed the plea.
Following her remand to judicial custody, Chandrama Devi was admitted to the district hospital late Thursday night after her counsel moved an application citing health issues, the officials said.
Chief Medical Superintendent Dr R K Mishra confirmed her admission.
Details of the Fraud Allegations
The case stems from a complaint filed by Ghanshyam Soni, a local trade leader in Amethi, who alleged that during her tenure as nagar panchayat chairperson, Chandrama Devi fraudulently facilitated the transfer of his house in the names of Lallu Prasad Soni, Lalji Soni, Pujari Lal Soni and Sangam Lal Soni.
The court summoned all the accused for trial on February 8, 2024. The complainant alleged that a forged certificate was issued to enable the transfer of the property.
Defence Claims Political Rivalry
The defence, however, argued that such certificates are issued by the executive officer of the nagar panchayat and not by the chairperson, and claimed that Chandrama Devi has been falsely implicated due to political rivalry.
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