The Supreme Court Grants Bail to Father Thazhathedathu, Bishop James in Fee Hike Cases
The Supreme Court has granted bail to Father Abraham Thazhathedathu of the Jabalpur diocese, Bishop Ajay Umesh Kumar James of the Church of North India (CNI), and others in cases involving alleged excessive fees and selling textbooks at high prices in Madhya Pradesh schools. The plea against the High Court’s order was allowed by a bench, overturning the order that rejected their bail plea on charges of cheating, forgery, and criminal conspiracy.
The appellants were arrested in May after FIRs were lodged based on a communication from the Jabalpur Collector. The Collector had invited complaints from parents on Facebook against the school management. The court found that the investigation was inconclusive and granted bail to the appellants.
Despite opposing views on bail, the court emphasized that the investigation’s inconclusiveness warranted relief for the appellants. The appellants’ counsel argued for their right to increase fees and facilitate textbook sales for students. The case reflects a complex legal battle with potential evidence tampering concerns. The High Court’s decision to reject bail was based on the incomplete investigation.
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