Slapgate MLA fails to get bail in high court

Navi Mumbai: The Bombay high court on Monday refused to grant relief to member of legislative assembly from Karjat, Suresh Lad, on his anticipatory bail plea.
The high court stated that elected representatives should not take the law into their hands.
Lad had been called at Karjat police station on Saturday evening and was questioned for nearly two hours regarding an incident in which he allegedly slapped deputy collector Abhay Kalgutktar on August 11.Fearing possible arrest, Lad had moved the high court for anticipatory bail after the additional sessions judge rejected the same on August 18.
Justice Sadhana Jadhav directed Lad to approach the district sessions judge in Alibaug who has now posted the plea for hearing on August 26.
In the order, Justice Jadhav said that the incident was not only humiliation for the public servant, but seemed to have been a matter of pride for the elected representatives.
“The protection of an elected representative in such an offence would give leverage to other political workers and elected representatives to deal with the public servant in the manner which would not befit administration of the executive,”Justice Jadhav observed. “There is no fear of law and the elected representatives may continue to use their power over public servants.’’
Additional public prosecutor Arfan Sait had opposed Lad’s plea.
On Saturday, inspector A Mulla of Karjat police station had recorded Lad’s statement.
Additional superintendent of police Sanjay Patil said, “We are not aware of the anticipatory bail plea moved in high court.”