In a relief to Vispy Bahadur Kapadia, a prominent face in the city's karate circle and a Maharashtra Utkrusht Kreeda Margdarshak Puraskar awardee for the best state coach for 2008-2009, the Supreme Court has restrained the police from arresting him in a forgery case.
In a relief to Vispy Bahadur Kapadia, a prominent face in the city's karate circle and a Maharashtra Utkrusht Kreeda Margdarshak Puraskar awardee for the best state coach for 2008-2009, the Supreme Court has restrained the police from arresting him in a forgery case.
The court, however, directed Kapadia to co-operate with the cops in the investigation and not to make any attempt to tamper with the evidence.
Kapadia, a former president of the Maharashtra Karate Association and vice-president of All India Karate Federation, has been facing charges for submitting forged certificates displaying the mettle of his students, to support his claim for the award.
Restraining the Mumbai police from arresting Kapadia, a bench headed by Justice T S Thakur said "in the event of arrest by police, the petitioner (Kapadia) shall be released on furnishing a bond of Rs 20,000."
Kapadia moved the apex court earlier this week after the Bombay high court dismissed his anticipatory bail plea on March 15.
Appearing for Kapadia, senior counsel Fali S Nariman argued that this is a "false" case and the investigating officer has threatened his client to arrest for custodial interrogation.
Complainant Salauddin Ansari, former national champion and now a coach, had filed a complaint against Kapadia before a magistrate, who had directed for registration of the FIR, after police refused to act on his complaint.
The senior lawyer said the complaint has its origins in the factional feuds in relation to the administration of sports bodies such as the Maharashtra Karate Association and the All India Karate Federation.
The credentials of the present petitioner are impeccable and there are ample circumstances to suggest the possibility of the accusation being false and frivolous and made only with the intention to injure and humiliate the petitioner, he said.
The counsel for police, however, opposed the bail saying the charges are serious against the petitioner and both sessions court and HC have rejected his bail plea.
According to police, Kapadia submitted his first proposal to claim the award in December 2008, and then again in January 2009. During scrutiny, he came to know that he was falling short in the points system and so he told authorities that he had nine more undertaking given by his students, who were part of various national events.
Eight of the nine students had neither played in the tournaments mentioned in the undertaking, nor had they issued any undertaking to Kapadia, as per complaint.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}