Court rejects bail plea of prime accused in case of defrauding MEMG

Mangalore Today News Network

Bengaluru, May 24, 2019: The Fourth Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court has  rejected the bail plea of Sandeep Gururaj, the prime accused in the Rs 70 crore  misappropriation case pertaining to Manipal Education and Medical Group (MEMG)

 

The accused who is in judicial custody since December 27 last year was working as Deputy General Manager of the firm.  The Police had also filed a 3000 page charge sheet against the accused.

Though the lawyer for Gururaj argued that the accused cannot  influence witness or destroy evidence as the charge sheet has already been filed, public prosecutor  Shailaja K Nayak argued that there was a possibility of the accused fleeing the nation as he had 15 shell companies abroad. She also pointed out that he had failed the  confidence placed on him by  Ranjan Pai, Chairman of MEMG  and Shruthi R Pai, its Director.

Later the court after going through the argument decided against granting bail to the accused.

Meanwhile the other three accused including  Gururaj’s wife Charusmitha, Amrita Chengappa, his ex-colleague and Amrita’s mother Meera Chengappa have already been granted bail in April.

Another accused Vishal Somanna, a pilot with Qatar Airways is absconding.  It is learnt the siphoned funds had been transferred to his account.