Suspended accountant seeks bail

A suspended employee of Tata Memorial Hospital has approached the sessions court seeking an anticipatory bail in an alleged misappropriation case.

A suspended employee of Tata Memorial Hospital has approached the sessions court seeking an anticipatory bail in an alleged misappropriation case.

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The Economic Offence Wing of the Mumbai police had registered a case against Avinash Mangoankar, working with the accounts department, under Prevention of Corruption Act.

In the application, Mangoankar said that though the first information report accuses him of allegedly misappropriating Rs 18 lakh, the hospital's show cause notice mentions Rs 10 lakh.

“We argued in the court that his custody was not required just to recover the amount”, said Mohan Tekavde, his lawyer.

“The vouchers were thrown haphazardly on table and anybody in the department has access to it”, said Mangoankar in his application.

Mangoankar said the hospital has investigated the matter and filed a charge sheet. Also, he has co-operated with the hospital authorities in the investigation.

Just because he is one of the signatory of the cheque it does not mean that he has misappropriated the amount, clarified Mangoankar. The court on Tuesday granted him interim protection and the case is likely to come up on April 13.