Massajog sarpanch case: Court schedules June 17 for hearing on Valmik Karad's plea challenging invoking of MCOCA against him
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: The special MCOCA court in Beed district has scheduled June 17 for deciding on the plea of Valmik Karad, the key accused in the murder of sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh, challenging the invoking of sections of Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) against him.
After attending the hearing on Tuesday morning, special public prosecutor
Ujjwal Nikam
, who is representing the state in this case, said, "Valmik Karad's lawyers have moved an application challenging the applicability of MCOCA against him. The court has scheduled June 17 as the next date for hearing the arguments on this application. Also, on behalf of the state, we moved an application for confiscating all the movable and immovable assets belonging to Valmik Karad.
The lawyers representing him have submitted replies regarding our application before the court today.
The argument on our application, too, will be taken up on the next date of hearing."
Nikam urged the court to frame charges in the case, stating that there was sufficient evidence against the accused. One of the key issues under consideration is whether the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) can be applied to prime accused Karad.
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The court is expected to deliver its decision on the applicability of MCOCA on June 17 after hearing arguments from both prosecution and defence.
In a parallel development, the prosecution has moved an application seeking seizure of Karad's movable and immovable properties. Karad's lawyers submitted their response on the matter, which has been scheduled for hearing on June 17.
Karad filed a discharge application seeking exemption from charges under MCOCA.
His defence team requested the court to prioritise the hearing on the application. The prosecution did not oppose the request, and the court listed the matter for hearing on June 17. Nikam confirmed that Karad is the only accused who filed such a discharge plea.
Defence lawyers Vikas Khade and Mohan Yadav told newsprsons after the hearing that the prosecution was yet to share the digital evidence with them. The prosecution, however, informed the court that the electronic evidence would be submitted in a sealed format, after which discussions could be held.
While the hearing on the discharge plea was expected on Tuesday, it did not take place. Instead, arguments were heard on several procedural and ancillary applications. The court observed that before addressing the discharge plea, other pending applications should be disposed of.
Khade noted that the hearing lasted for nearly 50 minutes. He added that the prosecution has filed applications related to property seizure, and the court has scheduled a consolidated hearing on all pending matters, including the discharge plea and digital evidence, for June 17.
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: The special MCOCA court in Beed district has scheduled June 17 for deciding on the plea of Valmik Karad, the key accused in the murder of sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh, challenging the invoking of sections of Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) against him.
After attending the hearing on Tuesday morning, special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam, who is representing the state in this case, said, "Valmik Karad's lawyers have moved an application challenging the applicability of MCOCA against him.
The court has scheduled June 17 as the next date for hearing the arguments on this application. Also, on behalf of the state, we moved an application for confiscating all the movable and immovable assets belonging to Valmik Karad.
The lawyers representing him have submitted replies regarding our application before the court today. The argument on our application, too, will be taken up on the next date of hearing."
Nikam urged the court to frame charges in the case, stating that there was sufficient evidence against the accused.
One of the key issues under consideration is whether the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) can be applied to prime accused Karad. The court is expected to deliver its decision on the applicability of MCOCA on June 17 after hearing arguments from both prosecution and defence.
In a parallel development, the prosecution has moved an application seeking seizure of Karad's movable and immovable properties.
Karad's lawyers submitted their response on the matter, which has been scheduled for hearing on June 17.
Karad filed a discharge application seeking exemption from charges under MCOCA. His defence team requested the court to prioritise the hearing on the application. The prosecution did not oppose the request, and the court listed the matter for hearing on June 17. Nikam confirmed that Karad is the only accused who filed such a discharge plea.
Defence lawyers Vikas Khade and Mohan Yadav told newsprsons after the hearing that the prosecution was yet to share the digital evidence with them. The prosecution, however, informed the court that the electronic evidence would be submitted in a sealed format, after which discussions could be held.
While the hearing on the discharge plea was expected on Tuesday, it did not take place. Instead, arguments were heard on several procedural and ancillary applications.
The court observed that before addressing the discharge plea, other pending applications should be disposed of.
Khade noted that the hearing lasted for nearly 50 minutes. He added that the prosecution has filed applications related to property seizure, and the court has scheduled a consolidated hearing on all pending matters, including the discharge plea and digital evidence, for June 17.
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