Pune: District and Sessions Judge U.M. Muddholkar granted permanent pre-arrest bail to businessman Peter Shukla, who is accused of defrauding Anita Modak, the wife of former police commissioner Vasant Bal Modak, of 80 lakhs.

The bail was granted under specific conditions requiring Shukla to cooperate with the ongoing investigation and refrain from exerting pressure on witnesses.

The case traces back to August 2023, when Anita Modak lodged a formal complaint against Shukla, alleging that he had defrauded her of a substantial sum.

Following the complaint, Shukla faced repeated summons from the Crime Branch, which allegedly threatened him to return the money or face criminal charges.

Shukla, through his Advocate Vijaysinh Thombare, sought pre-arrest bail in the court of Sessions Judge S.B. Hedaou. Initially, Judge Hedaou granted him interim pre-arrest bail, allowing Shukla to remain free while the case was being prepared.

After nearly a year, the original bail application came up for a hearing. Advocate Thombare argued that the police should not misuse their powers merely to recover funds, asserting that Shukla had issued a cheque to Anita Modak, which indicated his intention to settle the matter.

He contended that the case against Shukla was fabricated to harass him for immediate payment.

The court, after carefully considering the arguments from both sides, decided to grant bail to Shukla, setting forth certain conditions to ensure compliance with the investigation process.