Judge accuses advocates of committing fraud

Judge accuses advocates of committing fraud

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, July 18, 2014:  The Principal District and Sessions Court here has accused some advocates, including a Mangalore-based advocate, who are dealing with motor vehicle accident cases, of committing fraud by withdrawing prematurely fixed deposits of several accident victims with the support of false court orders.

In a complaint filed with the Mangalore North police, Chief Accounts Officer K. Prafulla has accused advocate A.C. Jayaraj of producing forged orders of the court to Dena Bank in Kankanady for premature release of fixed deposits related to petitioners who have been granted relief in accident cases.

Ms. Prafulla said that similar forged court orders had been produced by a few other advocates.

The complaint was filed on the directions of Principal District and Sessions Judge Uma M.G.

The judge’s direction came following an inquiry after the manager of Dena Bank’s Kankanady branch came to the court with letters bearing the seal and signature of the Principal District and Sessions Judge directing the bank to prematurely release fixed deposits of accident victims.

These fixed deposits are created on the directions of court using a part of the total compensation granted in accident cases.

The letters presented by the advocates to the bank sought for premature release of fixed deposits stating that the fixed deposit receipts kept in the court custody were lost. Some of these letters were submitted by Mr. Jayaraj.

On inquiry, the judge found that the letters submitted by the advocate bore forged signatures of the then Principal District and Sessions Judges B.V. Prakash and Chaudapurkar Arun. Ms. Uma also found that the fixed deposit receipts were in the custody of the court. These presiding officers had not sent any such orders to Dena Bank, the inquiry revealed.

The Mangalore North police have registered case against Mr. Jayaraj and the other advocates involved. The case is pending before the II Additional Senior Civil Judge Court.

Complaint lodged with Mangalore North Police on the directions of the Principal District and Sessions Court