Orders accused to surrender within two weeks
The High Court of Bombay at Goa has rejected the anticipatory bail plea of a man accused of fabricating court orders to mislead a complainant, observing that the seriousness of the offence and the material on record warranted custodial investigation.
The Bench of Justice Neela Gokhale refused pre-arrest protection to Craig Frank Jansen, alias Jansen Craig Frank, in connection with the case registered at Porvorim Police Station, and directed him to surrender before the police within two weeks.
The complaint was filed in November 2024 by a woman who alleged that her brother-in-law had circulated forged High Court and trial court orders through a co-accused via WhatsApp. The documents allegedly falsely claimed that criminal proceedings against the accused had been quashed and the complainant had been penalised, while another purported order showed the issuance of an arrest warrant.
The prosecution, during the hearing before the High Court, submitted that the documents were fabricated and digital evidence, including WhatsApp chats, indicated the applicant’s role in getting the forged orders prepared and circulated. It also submitted that despite notices, the accused had failed to join the investigation and was absconding, prompting the issuance of a lookout notice.
Opposing the plea for anticipatory bail, the complainant’s counsel argued that the applicant had suppressed material facts, including the withdrawal of earlier proceedings seeking to quash the FIR.
The applicant, however, maintained that the dispute was rooted in a family conflict and that the documents had been sent by a co-accused. It also cited the applicant’s medical condition and his willingness to cooperate.
Rejecting the plea, the High Court noted the gravity of the allegations and the applicant’s non-cooperation with the investigation, holding that no case was made out for granting anticipatory bail.
