A local court has denied bail to former NCP MP and current chairman of Nashik APMC, Devidas Pingale, who was arrested by the ACB in connection with the seizure of around Rs 58 lakh from a car in October which the police suspect was unaccounted money.
The District and Sessions court here turned down Pingale’s bail plea last evening. The ex-MP is now likely to move the Bombay High Court in this regard, his lawyer M Y Kale said.
Pingale was arrested on December 22 in connection with the suspicious transaction of the alleged unaccounted cash after ACB sleuths questioned him for over two hours in the agency’s office. He was produced in the court next day and sent to police custody till December 25.
The NCP leader was then remanded in ten days judicial custody, during which he moved for bail through his lawyer.
ACB had seized Rs 57,73,800 from a car here on October 25 and quizzed the APMC (Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee) secretary Vijay Nikam, accountant Arvind Jain and clerk Digambar Chikhale, who were travelling in the vehicle, in this regard.
The trio had told police that the cash was the dearness allowance (DA) and the difference in dues meant for APMC employees.
Meanwhile, one of APMC directors Shivajirao Chumbhale and some employees lodged a complaint against Pingale in connection with the seizure. An inquiry was underway since then by ACB.
Pingale had represented Nashik constituency during 2004-09. He was succeeded by Sameer Bhujbal, nephew of NCP stalwart Chhagan Bhujbal, who is currently in jail in Mumbai along with his uncle in connection with the money laundering cases against them.
( Source – PTI )
