MP: Relief for Nirmal Baba, HC grants anticipatory bail

In a major relief to controversial self-proclaimed godman Nirmal Baba, the Madhya Pradesh high court in Jabalpur granted him an anticipatory bail on Monday.

Justice G S Solanki of the high court asked him to execute a personal bond of Rs 50,000.

Earlier in the day, a magistrate's court at Bina had rejected Baba's application seeking exemption from personal appearance in a case of cheating. He was asked to be before the court on July 17.

He had moved HC, arguing that lower court issued warrant against him without giving any hearing, said Nirmal Baba's lawyer Manish Datt.

Following a complaint filed by Bina resident Surendra Vishwakarma, the local court had earlier issued a non-bailable arrest warrant, and directed police to produce him on June 25. However, the police could not find him on his Delhi addres.

Vihwakarma has accused Baba of "cheating and hurting personal sentiments". As per the complaint, Vihwakarma kept Rs 2,000 in a black purse so that his finances may improve, on Baba's instructions. But instead, he lost the purse with the money.

Also, Baba had advised him to give `kheer' to his ailing diabetic father, but it led to rise in the sugar level and worsened his condition, the complaint says.