In a significant development in a visa fraud case, a Mumbai court has granted bail to Lieutenant Commander Vipin Dagar of the Indian Navy. The decision was made by Additional Sessions Judge V M Pathade, who emphasized that Dagar had been in custody since June 2023, and the trial against him had not yet begun.
The police allegations against Dagar are serious; they claimed he was found with 14 Indian passports belonging to various individuals, as well as a stamp machine and 108 rubber stamps from different establishments. The authorities accused him of creating forged documents to facilitate the procurement of passports and visas for co-accused individuals. Additionally, investigators alleged that Dagar attempted to pressure officials at the Korean Embassy while in full naval uniform and acted inappropriately, which raised questions about his conduct as a public servant.
The prosecution presented a strong case, arguing that Dagar’s involvement in the alleged crimes was significant and inappropriate for someone in his position. They asserted that the evidence gathered by the investigating agency demonstrated his “active participation” in the illicit activities.
On the other hand, Dagar’s defense, led by advocate Sunil Pandey, strongly refuted the allegations, claiming that he was wrongly implicated in the case and was merely a victim of circumstance. Pandey argued that the police had failed to provide concrete grounds for Dagar’s arrest and pointed out that he had not personally benefited from the alleged fraud. To support his arguments for bail, the defense cited several landmark Supreme Court rulings.
In reaching its decision, the court acknowledged the prosecution’s claims but noted that a chargesheet had already been filed against Dagar and his co-accused. The court observed that Dagar had been in custody for an extended period of time without trial and indicated that there was no indication that the trial would conclude in the near future.
Taking these factors into account, the court concluded that Dagar was entitled to bail, subject to certain conditions, thereby allowing him to be released while the legal proceedings continue.
