In a significant ruling, the Bombay High Court has denied pre-arrest bail to Radha Narayan, a former school principal accused of misappropriating food grains allocated for the mid-day meal scheme. The decision was pronounced by Justice Rajesh Patil, who emphasized the necessity of custodial interrogation to unearth the facts of the case.
Radha Narayan, during her tenure as principal, is alleged to have misused food grains worth approximately Rs 5 lakh. These grains, provided by the Maharashtra government to ensure nutritious meals for students during the COVID-19 pandemic, were reportedly not distributed as intended.
Justice Patil pointed out discrepancies in Narayan’s defense, notably her claim that the grains were destroyed due to waterlogging at the school premises. The court highlighted the lack of any photographic evidence or communication with relevant authorities regarding the alleged damage, casting doubt on the authenticity of her explanation.
“The principal has not demonstrated transparency or truthfulness in her explanations. There appears to be a deeper issue than what is being presented,” Justice Patil remarked in his order. He further criticized Narayan’s failure to take preventive measures such as storing the grains on a higher floor to avoid the purported water damage, a situation he deemed predictable given Mumbai’s annual rainfall patterns.
The court was unconvinced by Narayan’s offer to repay the Rs 5 lakh, stating that financial compensation does not absolve her of the alleged misdeeds. “This court is not a venue for settling the government’s losses through payments from the accused,” Justice Patil declared.
According to the complaint, in March 2021, the school received significant quantities of chickpea and masoor dal, of which only a part was distributed to students, leaving a substantial quantity unaccounted for.
