The Supreme Court seeks response from the Gujarat Government to submit its response regarding the bail plea of retired IAS officer Pradeep Sharma. Sharma, a former bureaucrat, has sought bail in connection with a case against him
NEW DELHI: Today (22nd April): The Supreme Court seeks a response from the Gujarat Government to respond to the bail plea of Pradeep Sharma, a retired IAS officer. The case pertains to the alleged illegal allotment of government land for monetary gains during Sharma’s tenure as the collector of the Kutch district.
The bench, comprising Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan, issued a notice to the Gujarat government, granting them four weeks to submit their response. The plea was filed after the Gujarat High Court rejected Sharma’s bail application on March 20, 2024.
Background:
Pradeep Sharma, a former IAS officer, has been accused of irregularities in granting non-agriculture permission for a land parcel in Bhuj city, Kutch district, during his term as the collector from May 2003 to June 2006. The allegations suggest that Sharma, in collusion with co-accused individuals, unlawfully converted the land from non-agricultural to residential, resulting in substantial financial losses to the state exchequer. The state CID Crime in Kutch filed an FIR against Sharma, charging him with criminal breach of trust, disobedience by a public servant, criminal conspiracy, and violations of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
Pradeep Sharma approached the Supreme Court after the Gujarat High Court dismissed his bail plea. The High Court, taking note of multiple FIRs registered against Sharma for similar offenses during his tenure as a high-ranking government official, declined to favor the applicant-accused. The court observed that Sharma had faced allegations of misconduct allegations while holding a prominent position in the government.
Senior advocate Devadatt Kamat, appearing on behalf of Sharma, described his client as the “usual weeping boy of the state” and requested relief in the matter. The bench acknowledged the plea and confirmed the issuance of the notice.
FOLLOW US FOR MORE LEGAL UPDATES ON YOUTUBE
