Friday, May 6 2005 19:49 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Mumbai: Chairman of Industrial Development Bank of India (IDBI), V P Shetty was today (May 6, 2005) arrested for his alleged casteist remarks against IDBI general manager B W Ramteke and later released on bail.

Shetty was released on a bail of Rs 10,000, Deputy Commissioner of Police Naval Bajaj said.

He was arrested following the Bombay High Court order to take cognisance of the complaint filed by Ramteke.

A Division bench of Justice R M S Khandeparkar and Justice P V Kakade ruled that the cognisance be taken under sections 7 (1) (d) Civil Rights Protection Act, 1955, which deals with the protection of civil rights of the citizen.

The High Court, however, quashed the charge under section 3 (1) (10) of the SC, ST (Prevention of Atrocities Act, 1989) saying the alleged offence has taken place within the chairman's chamber and not in public view.

The Bench's ruling came following an application filed by Shetty seeking quashing of an FIR filed against him with a police station in south Mumbai.

Ramteke had filed an FIR with the police on April 30.

In a written complaint, Ramteke, also working as Chief Liaison Officer (CLO) for SCs, STs with the bank, said that he had requested the IDBI chief to calculate the fresh SC,ST backlog in view of the merger of IDBI Bank and IDBI Ltd.

This suggestion was made to ensure due compliance of the Government's reservation policy and make available benefits to the backward class employees, the complaint said.

Ramteke charged Shetty with insulting and humiliating him by making casteist remarks, as he took up the cause of SC, ST employees in discharging the duties of the CLO.

Shetty had said that he was wrongly accused of passing casteist remarks.