Bank fraud: 2 in UK seek video call appearance, court slams ‘entitlement’

Mumbai: Rejecting a plea by the former chairman and the former vice-chairman of the fraud-hit New India Cooperative Bank to allow them to appear through video conferencing from the UK, a magistrate court held that "such kind of abysmal entitlement shown by the accused cannot be entertained". It said were such pleas to be allowed, "there will be no sanctity left in the investigation and the following trial".The court said the law allowing appearance via video conferencing is clear that it's to be granted at the discretion of the judiciary and is not an absolute right of the accused. Former chairman Hiren Bhanu and vice-chairman Gauri Bhanu, who are accused of embezzling over Rs 122 crore over five years, had requested the court to stay a proclamation against them and dispense with their personal attendance, citing planned travel, medical ailments and a purported threat to their lives in India. The couple left for the UK shortly before the case was filed. The court was particularly critical of the justifications provided for staying abroad, describing the defence's arguments as a manufactured narrative. "The entire application reeks of huge entitlement... They are putting forth a case of personal difficulties and so-called threat to life... However, no such demonstration is on record..." The economic offences wing said despite being ordered to appear by Sept 30, 2025, via a public proclamation, the two stayed abroad. The court said the issuance of the warrant and the proclamation does not imply that the two are held guilty. "So, raising false hue and cry of victimisation should be the last resort."