Judge also observed that passport office was unable to produce list of authorised agents
Judge also observed that passport office was unable to produce list of authorised agents
Public notary Kishor Rambhau Akolkar, advocate Mahavir Shrishrimal, passport agent Vikas Shankar Deshpande,
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Acquitted: Vikas Deshpande, Mahavir Shrishrimal and Sushama Jagtap. Pics/Subroto Roy |
and consultant Sushama Prakash Jagtap were cleared on February 23 by the court of A K Madavgade charges of trespassing and misguiding citizens at the Pune Passport office.u00a0u00a0u00a0
Interestingly, the charges were slapped on the mentioned persons by the Chaturshrungi police station last year. The men had been arrested for their presence at the office during office hours, and later released on bail.u00a0
The court observed that the passport office was open for the public and the accused had the right to enter the premises during office hours. This was given as the reason for clearing the four accused of trespassing.
The court further pointed out that the prosecution had been unable to produce a purported list of authorised passport agents that the then Passport Officer Suresh Menon had given the Chaturshrungi police. The letter, the police had said, did not mention Deshpande.
