A city sessions court, Tuesday, refused bail to three agents who were arrested in connection with the death of the Patel family from Dingucha, who froze to death while illegally crossing over to the US from Manitoba in Canada, last January.
Additional sessions judge, Hemant Trivedi, rejected all the points raised by the trio – Yogesh Patel, Bhavesh Patel and Dashrath Chaudhury. In addition, the judge stated that their involvement was seen, prima facie, as a serious offence.
The trio was arrested by Crime Branch earlier this year in January, nearly a year after sleuths were on trail. They stand booked on charges of cheating, culpable homicide not amounting to murder, slavery and criminal conspiracy for human smuggling.
Arguing for them, their counsel stated that the end took place in Canada where they had no role to play. It was further stated that the Patel family was given valid and legal visas by the travel agents.
Moreover, it was contended that the incident took place on the US-Canada border and the Ahmedabad city sessions court has no jurisdiction over it. The deaths happened a year ago and the delayed FIR has no explanation.
However, public prosecutor Sudhir Brahmbhatt vehemently opposed the bail pleas drawing the attention of the court to statement by witnesses, all recorded under provisions of Section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code. He asserted that the accused played an active part in human smuggling.
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