Tainted IFS Officer Abhay Pathak, son Akash get bail

Bhubaneswar: The Special Vigilance Court, Bhubaneswar, today granted bail to IFS Officer Abhay Kant Pathak and his son Akash Pathak in a graft case.

The court granted the default bail under section 167 of CrPC clause II after police failed to submit chargesheet against the accused in 60 days. The court directed the duo to furnish bail bond of Rs 2 lakh each and two guarantors.

The father-son duo was arrested on November 27 in a corruption case.

“As the Vigilance failed to produce chargesheet before the court in 60 days, Abhay Pathak and Akash Pathak were granted bail as per law,” informed Abhinav Chand, Abhay Pathak’s counsel.

“The duo got bail in DA case. After getting bail, We will try to proceed further to quash the case.  Two more cases have already been registered against them at the Kharavel Nagar Police Station and another with the Crime Branch,” he added.

Earlier, the Special Vigilance Court, Bhubaneswar, had rejected the bail application of Abhay Pathak. He was arrested by the Vigilance on charges of amassing assets of Rs 9,35,42,594 disproportionate to his known source of income.

His son Akash Pathak is accused of defrauding people on pretext of job. He was arrested after Tata Motors and travel agency Sky King leveled allegations against him.

On December 2, the travel agency had registered a complaint at Kharavel Nagar police station accusing Akash of defrauding it of over Rs 65 lakh.

Reportedly, Akash and his father Abhay had booked chartered flights, luxury accommodation at five star hotels and air tickets around Rs 2.78 crore through the agency. However, they had paid Rs 2.13 crore while outstanding bill of Rs 65,16,233 was not cleared.