New Delhi, Aug 24 : The Supreme Court on Wednesday granted temporary protection against arrest for businessman Ashok Dhanuka in a matter in which three Jharkhand MLAs of the Congress were detained in West Bengal with a massive sum of cash.A bench, led by Chief Justice N.V.Ramana and comprising Justices Hima Kohli and C.T.Ravikumar and C.T.Ravikumar, stated: “Heard Mukul Rohatgi, senior counsel representing the petitioner.of the petitioner, and carefully looked over the information on the record.Issue notice.The matter will be discussed within six weeks.”
“In the meantime the temporary security against arrest is given to the petitioner.However the petitioner is required to cooperate with the investigation at every stage.Furthermore the protection granted in interim is subject to the fulfillment of the conditions stipulated in section 438(2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure 1973.”
Dhanuka has approached the apex tribunal seeking to revoke the FIR and to be protected from coercive measures against him by West Bengal Police.He is suspected of providing the cash amount of Rs 48 lakh to three MLAsIrfan Ansari, Rajesh Kachchap and Naman Bixal.
They were arrested with the cash in Howrah district of West Bengal on July 31.
Dhanuka has stated that he is “falsely incriminated” in a case relating to corruption of Jharkhand MLAs to overthrow the state’s ruling government.
His lawyer argued before the highest court that it’s an issue of political squabble between political parties as well as he is a businessman.
“I’m an older person and I’m being harassed,” said his counsel.
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