HC relief for Poonam Bhagat

The Bombay High Court has restrained a magisterial court from taking cognisance of a charge sheet filed by the police against socialite...

The Bombay High Court has restrained a magisterial court from taking cognisance of a charge sheet filed by the police against socialite Poonam Bhagat on a complaint from her estranged husband, industrialist Jaidev Shroff.

Socialite Poonam Bhagat (HT File Photo)

In April this year, a case had been lodged against Bhagat in the Khar police station following a complaint made by her estranged husband and industrialist Jaidev Shroff. Shroff had alleged that Bhagat had conspired with a “Bengali baba” and tried to “poison him by spiking his juice”.

The police accordingly initiated a probe, arrested the godman, and filed a charge sheet against him and Bhagat.

The police sent Bhagat a letter earlier this month, asking her to remain present before the Bandra magistrate court on December 3.

However, Bhagat then filed a plea in the high court seeking relief and a bench led by Justice Ranjit More has now asked the magistrate court to not take cognisance of the charge sheet, until further orders.

The directions came after Bhagat argued that the charge sheet went against a directive issued in September this year by Maharashtra’s additional chief secretary (home), seeking that the case be transferred to the crime branch.

The high court is likely to take up the matter for further hearing on December 21 this year.