Rane duo gets anticipatory bail in alleged extortion case
PTI, PANAJI | 22 August 2014 21:45 IST
A special court in Panaji on Friday, granted conditional anticipatory bail to former Goa Chief Minister Pratapsingh Rane and his legislator son, Vishwajit in connection with the extortion case filed against them by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of state police.
Rane and his son were asked to furnish a bail bond of Rs one lakh each.
The Ranes had moved the court after SIT filed the case against them for extorting money from Dahej Mineral's Managing Director Bhalchandra Naik.
The mine owner had accused the two of accepting Rs six crore for renewal of his mining lease.
Earlier in August, the court, after hearing the arguments had reserved its verdict on the anticipatory bail for Friday.
The SIT had on July 3 registered a case against the duo for allegedly accepting the bribe three years back. The investigating officers are yet to call Rane and his son for the interrogation.
Rane is currently the Leader of Opposition in Goa Assembly. He had refuted the allegations claiming that he had never met Naik.
"I don't know who he (Naik) is. The allegations against me are false," Rane had said.
The SIT has registered the case under Sections 384 (extortion) and 120B of Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Section 7 read with Sections 13(1)(d) and 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
