Sassoon Hospital 4.18 crore Scam In Pune: Court Rejects Anticipatory Bail Of 13 Accused
In a significant development, a sessions court in Pune has rejected the anticipatory bail applications of 13 individuals accused of embezzling ₹4.18 crore from Sassoon Hospital’s Bank of Baroda account.
The accused, including hospital staff and former employees, allegedly withdrew funds between July 31, 2023, and January 24, 2024. Sessions Judge D.P. Ragit delivered the verdict, upholding the prosecution’s argument that releasing the accused could hinder the investigation.
Additional Public Prosecutor Leena Pathak contested the bail applications, citing concerns that custodial interrogation is necessary to uncover how the embezzled funds were used and whether any third parties were involved. Pathak’s arguments swayed the court, leading to the rejection of the bail applications.
The accused include hospital staff and former employees, such as Sulakshana Chabukswar, Senior Assistant Cashier; Nilesh Shinde, Room Attendant; and Suman Valkoli, Superintendent. Other accused individuals include Archana Alotkar, Santosh Jogdand, Dayaram Kachotia, Anita Shinde, Shekhar Kolar, and Rakhi Shah.
A total of 25 individuals are implicated in the case, which was registered at Bund Garden Police Station. The investigation is ongoing, with the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) probing allegations of fraud at the government-run hospital.
The rejection of anticipatory bail applications sends a strong message that those accused of financial misappropriation will face scrutiny and potential consequences. The case highlights the need for transparency and accountability in public institutions.