Apex court grants bail to elusive MVI Shejwal

Staff Reporter

Justice Sudhanshu Dhuliya and Justice Prasanna Varale at the Supreme Court of India have granted anticipatory bail to Motor Vehicle Inspector (MVI) Geeta Shejwal, a prime accused in an attempted murder case. The decision follows the rejection of her pre-arrest bail application by the Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court on February 8. The apex court has imposed certain conditions for Shejwal’s bail, instructing her to fully co-operate with the police investigation. Failure to adhere to these conditions may lead to the State seeking cancellation of her bail. This condition is expected to expedite the investigation into the shooting incident and unravel the truth behind the matter.

The firing incident involving MVI Sanket Gaikwad is of grave concern, and MVI Geeta Shejwal has been identified by the police as the shooter. Despite being on the run for the past two months, the Supreme Court’s directive mandates her appearance before the police to facilitate co-operation in the ongoing investigation.

Initially, Gaikwad did not disclose the truth about the firing. However, the police have managed to obtain a statement from an eyewitness – a security guard at Gaikwad’s apartment. The guard reported hearing a commotion early in the morning, followed by the sound of gunfire, providing a crucial perspective on the incident. The question now remains: Will Shejwal reveal the truth during the course of the investigation?The case originated from an incident on May 5, 2022, when Geeta Shejwal allegedly fired a shot at Sanket Gaikwad, her former subordinate at the Regional Transport Office (RTO). The City police filed an FIR against Shejwal under Section 307 of the Indian Penal Code on January 12, 2023, along with charges against Gaikwad under Section 201.

The motive behind the attack is believed to be linked to a conspiracy related to monetary disputes within the RTO, particularly ‘funds’ collected by the Flying Squad, headed by Gaikwad. Gaikwad is alleged to have collected funds with the approval of a senior official, sparking a dispute with Shejwal over the ‘collection’. Shejwal, with a history of criminal offenses, has a track record of evading the police for extended periods. The ongoing police investigation has revealed instances of Shejwal’s elusive nature and her ability to navigate police procedures. Gaikwad, who initially claimed the firing was accidental, now faces allegations of providing misleading information, fabricating a false crime scene, and tampering with evidence. Senior Adv Siddharth Luthra, Adv Sameer Sonwane, and Adv Anmol Kheta represented MVI Geeta Shejwal during the hearing.