Business ‘at standstill’: Gujarat High Court gives accused extra time for bail deposit

A Surat man accused of orchestrating a Rs 4.80-crore international diamond fraud has obtained a one-month extension from the Gujarat High Court to pay the remaining half of his bail surety. The accused pleaded that his prolonged incarceration had brought his diamond business to a "complete standstill", leaving him unable to raise the full amount on time.

Harekrushna alias Hari Kamleshbhai Raval was arrested on March 25 in connection with a case involving fake online profiles of US-based buyers created using virtual phone numbers to cheat local diamond traders. In July, the High Court granted regular bail to Raval after he offered to deposit Rs 10 lakh before the trial court within two months of his release.

His brother had submitted an undertaking to this effect, making the deposit a key condition of the bail. However, as the deadline approached, Raval moved the High Court seeking more time. His counsel informed the court that despite "relentless efforts", Raval could only arrange Rs 5 lakh because his business had collapsed while he was in jail, leaving him with no source of income.