KOCHI: The Kerala High Court on Thursday extended to April 19 the stay on further proceedings in the cheating case registered against LDF candidate in Azheekode M V Nikesh Kumar, who is the Managing Director of a channel, and his wife. The Thodupuzha police had registered a case against the duo based on a complaint by Lali Joseph, of Karimannur, Thodupuzha.
The court made it clear that in view of the definite report of the DySP, Thodupuzha, that there was strong case to be investigated, question of extension of stay after the expiry of the 30th day will have to be seriously thought of. The court had earlier stayed the proceedings for one month.
The offences levelled against Nikesh and his wife are under Section 406 ( Criminal breach of trust), 420 (cheating), 465 (forgery) and three other offences under IPC. In the complaint, Lali Joseph alleged that Nikesh cheated her after promising to make her a major shareholder in the Indo-Asian News Channel Private Limited, which runs Reporter TV. In 2010, an amount of `1.5 crore was transferred to the company’s account by her. It was alleged that there was a promise that she will be made one of the directors of the company. But the promise was not realised, the complainant alleged. Counsel for the complainant submitted that application for bail by Nikesh Kumar is pending before the Sessions Judge in view of the stay order by the High Court.