QNet scam: Hyderabad High Court stays all cases against Michael Ferreira
Hyderabad: The Hyderabad High Court on Friday granted respite to former billiards champion Michael Ferreira and four of his associates by staying all further proceedings in the criminal cases lodged against them and also the transit order against him.
Justice Raja Elango, while dealing with petitions by Malcolm N. Desai, Michael Joseph Ferreira, Srinivasa Rao Vanka, Magaral V. Balaji, Nozer K. Desai, granted the stay on all further proceedings in criminal proceedings pending against them in the case of Rs 400-crore alleged fraud involving multi-level marketing company QNet and also directed the trial court to grant bail to them.
The court also stayed the transit remand granted by a Mumbai court in favour of the Hyderabad police.
D.V. Seetharama Murthy, senior counsel appearing for the petitioners, contended that an FIR cannot be lodged against his clients based on the confession of one of the accused recorded in police custody.
While granting stay, the judge directed the trial court to release the petitioners by obtaining '1 lakh as surety from each and the petitioners were directed to appear before the investigation officer every day.
The Hyderabad High Court has made it clear that the age limits prescribed by the Bar Council of India for admission into law courses will not be applicable for admissions for the current academic year.
A division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Ramesh Ranganathan and Justice A. Shankar Narayana granted the interim order on two separate petitions seeking to declare Clause 28 of Rules of Legal Education 2008, issued by the Bar Council of India prescribing the age limit for admissions, as illegal.
S Sriram, counsel appearing for KKC Law College, said that the Bar Council of India’s notification prescribing that only persons aged below 20 years can join the five-year course and persons aged above 30 years cannot join the three-year course.
He said that the notification was issued after the Lawcet announcement and hence cannot be applicable for them. The bench ruled that the age restrictions cannot be applicable this year.
