Huge Relief For Odisha MLA Md Moquim, HC Stays Vigilance Court’s Jail Term In Loan Fraud

Cuttack: In a huge relief for Cuttack-Barabati MLA Mohammed Moquim, the Orissa High Court on Monday stayed the three-year jail sentence awarded to him by a vigilance court in a loan fraud case.

While issuing a stay on the execution of sentence/fine, the HC admitted a criminal appeal, called for the record from the trial court and granted interim bail to him on furnishing bail bond of Rs 1 lakh with two sureties. The next hearing of the case has been posted for October 13.

Mouqim had moved the High Court, seeking suspension of his conviction. Senior advocate Pitambar Acharya pleaded the case on his behalf, sources said.

Also Read: Odisha MLA Moves HC Against 3-Year Jail Term In Loan Fraud Case

The Cuttack-Barabati MLA, who is the former managing director of Metro Builders, along with three others including former IAS officer Vinod Kumar was awarded 3-year rigorous imprisonment on September 29. The court found Mouqim, Kumar, Company Secretary Swosti Ranjan Mohapatra, and Metro Builders Director Peeyush Dhari Mohanty guilty of showing undue official favour, criminal misconduct, forgery, cheating and criminal conspiracy and obtaining pecuniary advantage for Metro Builders Pvt Ltd by releasing funds in the guise of loans meant for the rural poor.

All of them were slapped with a fine of Rs 50,000 each. In case of default, they had to undergo six more months of imprisonment.

Also Read: Loan Fraud Conviction: Will Odisha Cong Leader Md Moquim Lose MLA Status?

The loan fraud took place when Kumar was managing director of Odisha Rural Housing and Development Corporation (ORHDC)  between January 4, 2000, and May 15, 2001. The basic norms of inspection, verification and collaterals were flouted in the disbursal of loans during 2000-01, sources said.

Metro Builders Pvt Ltd was sanctioned a term loan of Rs 1.5 crore from the state PSU for its Metro City-II project without the approval of the board of directors of ORHDC or the loan committee.