A Major Milestone in the Fight for Justice: Framing of Charges Moves Forward
Today (10th October 2024) marks a significant step forward in our ongoing battle for justice. During today’s hearing at the City Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) Court, the judge confirmed that charges will be framed in November against the two accused — the so-called CEO and his Father. After years of delays, they finally appeared in court, along with their legal counsel.
For context, here’s a brief timeline of the case:
1. FIR Filed: July 2021
2. Investigation: Initially by City Police (July–October 2021), then transferred to CID because the accused had bribed the Cops.
3. Chargesheet Filed: October 2022
4. Framing of Charges: Scheduled for November 2024
This 2-year delay in framing charges could have been avoided almost entirely. The accused repeatedly filed for exemptions on one pretext or another, the senior advocate was absent multiple times, and there were several unfortunate delays. However, our recent petition to assist the prosecution allowed us to highlight these unnecessary delays, helping push the case forward more efficiently. The judge has been fair in granting early dates, and we’re finally seeing progress.
Next steps in the trial process include:
5. Examination of Witnesses, including myself as the complainant
6. Cross-Examination of all witnesses
7. Presentation of Evidence by both sides (including key evidence not yet included in the chargesheet which we hope to present to ensure that additional accomplices — such as other family members, fraud accountants and bank managers and also the other co-founder — also face justice)
8. Closing Arguments
9. Judgment
10. Appeals
Despite the open-and-shut nature of this case, it may drag on for a few months, or even years. But if getting convicted for fraud and going to jail is written into someone’s destiny, they have to face it eventually. I remain committed to seeing this through to its logical end, ensuring every individual who played a role in this fraudulent scheme pays for their sins.
I’ve held off on taking certain adverse actions to avoid impacting employees, hoping that reason would prevail before the trial. Unfortunately, it seems clear now that better sense will not prevail, and those who continue to stand by and support these actions like those employees who lied in court affidavits will also have to face the consequences of their choices.
Once you pick the wrong side in a battle for justice, you must be ready to face the consequences.
The journey ahead may still be long, but the truth is on our side, and justice will be served.
