Maharashtra BJP leader Prasad Lad gets interim protection from arrest in EOW case

The Bombay High Court on Wednesday shielded BJP MLC Prasad Lad from arrest for three weeks in a case registered by the Economic Offences Wing of the Mumbai Police.

The Bombay High Court on Wednesday granted interim relief for three weeks to BJP Member of Legislative Council (MLC) Prasad Lad in a case registered by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Mumbai Police.

Lad had filed a petition seeking the quashing of an FIR under IPC sections 406 (criminal breach of trust) and 420 (cheating) registered against him by the EOW in connection with a Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) contract. Lad had also prayed that the police should be directed not to file a chargesheet, nor take any coercive steps against him.

While granting protection from coercive action to the BJP leader, the bench of Justices PB Varale and SM Modak issued notices to the Maharashtra government and the complainant, businessman Bimal Agarwal. The court asked them to state if Lad was “intimated, informed either by any communication or notice within the span of lodging of FIR in 2015 till the notice of 2021. We further make it clear that if the accused (Lad) was intimated then this court may consider of recalling the order of granting interim relief in favour of him."

Advocate Rizwan Merchant, appearing for Lad, said the MLC is “a prominent member of Opposition and it is because of tug of war that is going on in state and the supremacy for power that all this is happening."

Merchant argued that as Lad is an influential person, some “disgruntled elements” who are trying to block his political career may use the EOW case as a tool, so he prayed for an interim order. The lawyer stated that in case some adverse action is initiated against Lad, then he would be subjected to serious prejudice.

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Lad's case is that he is the director of a company named Krystal Tradecom Pvt Ltd which provides security and allied services. In 2009, he, along with businessman Bimal Agarwal's company, formed a joint venture (JV) called BVG-Krystal. Agarwal's Pune based company provides industrial utility services like mechanised housekeeping, gardening etc.