Mukesh Shukla, a businessman who previously ran for the Nakawa West parliamentary seat, has been remanded to Luzira Prison. He is accused of fraudulently obtaining UGX 221 million from a company.
Shukla, along with Judith Ayebare, a manager at Shumuk Investments Limited, and Dharamdip Kadikar, an accountant at Shumuk Group of Companies, is facing charges. However, Ayebare and Kadikar did not appear in court.
On May 15, 2024, Shukla appeared before Chief Magistrate Erias Kakooza at Nakawa Court. He denied the charges of obtaining money by false pretenses, which violates Sections 304 and 305 of the Penal Code Act, and conspiracy to defraud, under Section 309 of the same act.
These charges carry severe penalties. If convicted of obtaining money by false pretenses, Shukla could face up to five years in prison. The charge of conspiracy to defraud carries a maximum sentence of three years.
Senior State Attorney Mariam Kluthum from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) requested more time to review the extensive case file and to explore possible settlements between the parties involved.
The prosecution alleges that between November 2020 and November 2021, in Banda and Nakawa Industrial Area in Kampala, Shukla and his associates deceived Alvi Auto Village Limited into believing they were leasing two plots of land. This deception led to the company losing UGX 221.8 million.
The defense lawyer, Badru Bwango, informed the court that his client, Mukesh Shukla, is willing to pay UGX 20 million as a gesture of goodwill to resolve the matter with the complainant.
Shukla’s case has been adjourned until Friday, when his bail application will be heard. The court will then decide whether he will be released on bail while awaiting further proceedings.
