Plea in court seeks pre-arrest bail for all MVA members

Mumbai: A plea was recently moved before the special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court seeking anticipatory bail for all members of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) and protection from arrest in “false” cases. The plea submitted by Congress members Madhu V Holamagi, Yusuf Patel and Ranjeet Dutta said, “The situation prevailing in the country is so unfortunate that the Union government under the banner of Bharatiya Janata Party is misusing the central agencies to harass the members of other parties especially the components of Maha Vikas Aghadi as they have with mala fide intention, ulterior motive to suppress the government ... which was formed consisting of the Shiv Sena, Congress as well as Rashtravadi Congress … ” Special judge M G Deshpande directed the Enforcement Directorate to submit its reply. The court said that before granting any blanket interim relief it would be proper to issue notice to the investigating agency. During the proceedings, the court asked Holamagi, an advocate, as to how such a blanket prayer in favour of MPs and MLAs without their power and vakalatnamas can be considered. The lawyer then submitted that he will furnish the vakalatnama along with the authority letter. The court noted, “On failure of advocate Holamagi to produce any …vakalatnamas, authority letter to represent the members of Maha Vikas Aghadi, notices will be issued to each and every member of Maha Vikas Aghadi whether they have made such an application in this court asking any relief.”
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