A sessions court has granted anticipatory bail to Dr. Lekha Pathak, a 79-year-old leading cardiologist, in a case related to the pension of former Maharashtra deputy chief minister, late Ramrao Adik. The dispute originated from allegations made by Adik's son, who claimed Dr. Pathak was unlawfully receiving the pension designated for Adik's widow, asserting she was not legally married and had potentially forged documents.
Additional Sessions Judge Avinash Kulkarni's order highlighted that the matter primarily constitutes a civil dispute concerning pension entitlement, concluding that there was no evidence of criminal intent by Dr. Pathak. The court cited her advanced age, professional reputation, and cooperation with authorities as factors, stating that custodial interrogation was not required and emphasizing the principle that civil disagreements should not result in unwarranted criminal proceedings.
Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/ex-deputy-cms-pension-court-bail-cardiologist-dr-lekha-pathak-10363832/