Vikas Mishra, who is embroiled in a high-profile coal scam investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), was granted bail by the Calcutta High Court on Monday in a separate case involving allegations of harassment of a minor under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
Mishra, arrested on November 24 by the Kolkata Police, has been in judicial custody since his detention. The allegations were brought forth by the minor’s mother, leading to charges under the stringent POCSO Act.
A division bench, including Justice Arijit Banerjee and Justice Apurba Sinha Roy, set the bail at Rs 10,000 with two like sureties, stipulating that one of the sureties must be a local resident. The court also imposed conditions requiring Mishra to appear before the trial court at every hearing until further orders are issued.
During the hearing, Mishra’s defense argued that he had been falsely implicated in the case and highlighted concerns regarding his health. The court, after reviewing a medical report submitted by the West Bengal government, acknowledged that Mishra required immediate medical attention, which influenced their decision to grant bail.
Mishra is notably involved in a significant coal scam case, where he and his brother Vinay Mishra have been key figures under investigation by the CBI. Despite the serious nature of the allegations in the coal scam, Mishra had previously secured bail from a court handling the matter, which is ongoing at the designated CBI court in Asansol, West Bengal’s Paschim Bardhaman district.
