Builder's suicide: HC expedites hearing on pre-arrest bail

The Bombay High Court today advanced the hearing of anticipatory bail petitions of four corporators from the neighbouring Thane in connection with the builder Suraj Parmar suicide case upon the prosecution's request.
The High Court had on November 3 granted interim protection from arrest to Vikrant Chavan (Congress), Najib Mulla, Hanumant Jagdale (both NCP) and Sudhakar Chavan (independent) and posted the hearing of their pre-arrest bail pleas to December 2.
Parmar, a leading builder, shot himself on October 7. His suicide note alleged that a nexus of corporators and officials was harassing him for bribes.
Thane police registered a case of abetment of suicide under the IPC and 'criminal misconduct' under the Prevention of Corruption Act as the suicide note allegedly named these four corporators.

Public prosecutor Raja Thakare today mentioned the matter before a vacation bench headed by Justice Ravi Deshpande and sought hearing at the earliest saying it was a sensitive case and the four corporators were facing some serious allegations.
The charges of corruption have to be investigated expeditiously and their custodial interrogation was required, the prosecutor said.
The court accepted his contention and advanced the hearing to November 23.
Earlier, the Thane sessions court had rejected the anticipatory bail pleas of these four corporators.