The Kerala High Court on Tuesday adjourned to May 26 the final hearing on a petition filed by Azheekode LDF candidate M.V. Nikesh Kumar and his wife challenging a cheating case registered against them.
When the petition came up for hearing, Director General of Prosecution Asaf Ali took objection to the court further extending the stay on the proceedings in the cheating case.
The State government had already filed a petition seeking to vacate the stay in the criminal proceedings in the case.
Fails to keep promise
The case has been registered by the Thodupuzha police against Mr. Kumar, who is the Managing Director of a Malayalam channel, and his wife on a complaint filed by Lali Joseph, Karimannur, Thodupuzha. In the complaint, Ms Joseph alleged that Mr. Kumar had promised to make her a major shareholder and a director in Indo-Asian News Channel Private Limited, which runs Reporter TV on paying money.
She had transferred Rs.1.5 crore to the company’s account in 2010. But Mr. Kumar had not redeemed his promises, the complainant alleged.
Mr. Kumar and his wife were charged with offences under Section 406 (Criminal breach of trust), 420 (cheating), 465 (forgery), and three other offences under IPC.
Govt. allegation
The State government submitted in its petition that the accused were making hectic efforts to destroy valuable documents from the company and from their offices so as to escape from the clutches of law and in such an event it would be very detriment to a fair investigation.
The State submitted that no settlement had been materialised till date.
