Pendse denies fund misappropriation charges

Former managing director of Tata Finance Ltd, D S Pendse, facing a non-bailable warrant, for his alleged involvement in the misappropriation of Rs 2 crore (Rs 20 million) in a group company, contended before a city court on Thursday that a wrong complaint has been lodged against him.

During the hearing on the anticipatory bail plea of Pendse, his counsel told Additional Sessions Judge Manju Goel that the former TFL MD had co-operated with the Economic Offences Wing of Delhi Police in the investigation of the case and is not absconding as alleged by the prosecution and TFL.

Delhi Police had initiated investigation against Pendse on a complaint filed on behalf of Inshaallah Investment Ltd, a TFL subsidiary, in September last year alleging that he had issued cheques worth Rs 2 crore to two brokers for payment of personal transactions of a former TFL director.

A case of cheating, forgery, criminal conspiracy and misappropriation of funds of IIL was registered and a non-bailable warrant was issued against him recently.

However, Pendse's counsel Ramesh Gupta termed the complaint as a vindictive one stating that it was lodged as a result of TFL's frustration since nothing has come out against his client.

He submitted that the Mumbai Police has filed a closure report on the complaint which is pending in the court there.

Pressing for grant of anticipatory bail to Pendse, the counsel said his custodial interrogation was not necessary as sought by the police since he has cooperated in the probe and the entire documents pertaining to the case is with TFL after he resigned from the company in May 2001.

Pendse's counsel submitted that no material concerning the case was to be recovered from his client and he was ready to abide by any condition of bail.

The hearing would continue on Friday.