Ahmedabad: A sessions court at Dholka in Ahmedabad district on Wednesday imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 on a fraud accused for filing an anticipatory bail application, citing a statutory bar under the Gujarat Protection of Interest of Depositors (In Financial Establishments) Act, 2003 (GPID Act).Ramesh Patel, accused of land plotting scheme fraud, wanted the court’s protection in connection with an FIR registered against him under BNS and Section 3 of the GPID Act. He alleged that investors paid for plots in schemes floated by Gotiz Infratech Ltd, but sale deeds and possession were not given and refunds were not made.Patel maintained innocence, but the public prosecutor opposed the plea and submitted that a sessions court does not have jurisdiction to entertain anticipatory bail plea in this case.Additional sessions judge P N Navin said, “As per Section 17(2) of the GPID Act, even designated court is also barred to decide application for anticipatory bail connected with the offence under GPID Act. Therefore, this court has no jurisdiction to deal with this application for anticipatory bail.”The court fined Patel Rs 10,000 for his careless approach in choosing the court. It said, “Despite the settled legal position and clear statutory bar, the applicant has preferred this application before this sessions court that does not have the authority to hear this specific type of case, and thereby wasted this court’s valuable time.”
