Man who impersonated cousin as Surat municipal cleaning staff for 20 years, acquitted

As per the lawsuit details, Praveenkumar Raghuveer Prasad — moving arsenic unit serviceman astatine the SMC headquarter astatine the Central Zone —- had lodged a ailment with the Chowk Bazar constabulary presumption successful Surat metropolis against cousins Keshav Dahya Jadav and Dilipbhai Hedamba connected July 20, 2013.

In the complaint, Prasad alleged that some the cousins worked connected impermanent ground arsenic cleaning staffer with the SMC. K D Jadav received an assignment missive arsenic an SMC worker and was told to study to work connected August 1, 1992.

However, Hedemba did not person immoderate specified letter. Instead of Jadav, Hedemba reported to duty. He besides submitted his photo, and handprint content — a process followed by the civic assemblage portion regularising employees.

“In 2013, the unit section received an anonymous letter, saying that Dilip Hedemba cheated SMC by moving arsenic K D Jadav. A vigilance enquiry was launched, and it was recovered the allegations were true. Following this, Hedemba was suspended from the job,” the ailment read.

Police registered an offence nether Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 416 (cheating by personation), 418 (cheating with cognition that wrongful nonaccomplishment whitethorn ensue to idiosyncratic whose involvement offender is bound to protect), 420 (cheating), 467 (forgery for invaluable security, will), 468 (forgery for intent of cheating), 471 (using arsenic genuine a forged papers oregon physics record), 114 (abbetor contiguous erstwhile offence is committed), and 120(b) (criminal conspiracy).

On the ground of the complaint, Chowk Bazaar constabulary arrested Hedemba and his relative K D Jadav. After their remand period, they were sent to judicial custody astatine Surat sub-jail. After spending a fewer months successful jail, the duo were released connected bail.

Chowk Bazaar constabulary prepared a chargesheet and submitted it with the Surat territory tribunal connected December 4, 2013. The chargesheet included statements of 15 witnesses, including colleagues, FSL officer, relatives of some the accused, SMC officials, and 17 documentary evidences. From the prosecution side, Assistant Public Prosecutor S P Chauhan pressed connected the charges, witnesses and documentary evidence, which were argued by defence lawyer Yahya Mukhtiar Shaikh.

The proceedings were carried retired successful the 6th Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate tribunal of Judge A A Vayda. During the lawsuit proceedings, K D Jadav passed distant owed to an unwellness successful 2018. After proceeding arguments from some prosecution and defence sides, Judge A A Vayda had connected Monday evening passed an bid acquitting the 2nd accused Dilip Hedemba.

In the order, the Judge observed, “The prosecution has alleged that the accused Dilip Hedemba had fixed his thumb and manus content connected the work publication portion joining his duties arsenic regular worker claiming that helium is K D Jadav. Police had done panchnama and besides took manus prints of some the accused which were not verified with the earlier manus prints of Dilip, done FSL. The prosecution has not brought connected grounds to the tribunal astir the verification of signatures of K D Jadav (original) portion moving connected impermanent ground and tallied it to signature done by Dilip Hedembe arsenic K D Jadav connected work publication arsenic SMC employee.”

Assistant Public Prosecutor S P Chauhan said, “We volition spell done the bid transcript and volition determine our aboriginal people of actions.”

On the acquittal, defence lawyer Yahya Shaikh said, “We are precise overmuch satisfied with the bid of the court. We volition hold for a definite play till the prosecution takes immoderate enactment and aboriginal we volition attack the tribunal for the pending salary, different benefits, and pension from the SMC.”