Extortion case: IPS officer Pramod Kumar appears before CBI court in Coimbatore

IPS officer Pramod Kumar appears before court in Coimbatore in extortion case linked to Paazee forex scam. Judge recalls NBW, sets hearing for discharge petition on Oct 31. Other accused have already had their discharge petitions dismissed. Case involves Sections 120 B, 347, 384, 506 (I) of IPC and 8, 10, 13 (2) read with 13 (1)(d) of PCA. Related to 2009 case of Paazee Forex Trading India Private Limited cheating depositors of ₹930.71 crore.

Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Pramod Kumar, who is an accused in an extortion case that is linked to the multi-crore Paazee forex scam, appeared before the Second Additional District Court in Coimbatore, which handles CBI cases, on Friday.

Mr. Kumar appeared before judge S. Govindharajan after the latter issued a non-bailable warrant (NBW) against him on Wednesday.

The judge recalled the NBW on the condition that Mr. Kumar, who is now posted as the Inspector General of Police (IGP) of Tamil Nadu Newsprint and Papers Limited at Karur, should appear before it without fail on November 4.

Earlier in the day, Mr. Kumar’s counsel submitted a petition before the court, seeking to discharge him from the case before the framing of charges. The court posted to hear the discharge petition on October 31. The Economic Offences Wing of the CBI, which investigated the 2012 case, is expected to file a petition countering Mr. Kumar’s discharge petition before October 31.

The court has already dismissed discharge petitions of the four other accused in the 2012 case, namely N. Rajendran, who worked as deputy superintendent of police at Tiruppur town; V. Mohanraj, who was inspector of Central Crime Branch at Tiruppur; John Prabakar alias Annachi, a friend of the IPS officer from Mylapore; and N. Senthil Kumar, a resident of Tiruppur.

As per the charge sheet filed by the CBI in the case in 2013, Mr. Kumar is an accused under Sections 120 B read with 347, 384, 506 (I), of the Indian Penal Code and Sections 8, 10, 13 (2) read with 13 (1)(d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

The case is related to another case registered by the Tiruppur Central Crime Branch against Paazee Forex Trading India Private Limited in 2009 for having cheated depositors to the tune of ₹930.71 crore.