Kampala entrepreneur Mukesh Shukla, who ran for the Nakawa West parliament seat, has been released on bail. He’s accused of obtaining money under false pretenses.
Prosecutors claim that between November 2020 and November 2021 in Banda and Nakawa Industrial Area in Kampala, Shukla received sh221.8m from Alvi Auto Village Limited by falsely claiming to lease them two plots of land.
Shukla was granted a cash bail of sh10m by Nakawa Court Chief Magistrate Erias Kakooza on Friday, May 17, 2024. The case is scheduled for mention on June 17, 2024.
The magistrate noted that Shukla presented substantial sureties willing to produce him in court as needed. Shukla’s sureties were instructed to execute a non-cash bond of sh200m.
Additionally, Shukla was directed to deposit his passport in court. Kakooza released the businessman on bail, noting his willingness to settle his debt with the complainant.
Shukla is facing charges alongside Shumuk Investments Limited manager Judith Ayebare and Shumuk Group of Companies accountant Dharamdip Kadikar. They are accused of obtaining money by false pretenses and conspiracy to defraud.
These charges carry potential sentences of up to five years imprisonment for obtaining money by false pretenses and up to three years for conspiracy to defraud.
A Senior State Attorney from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), Mariam Kluthum, informed the court that investigations are complete. She stated that if a settlement isn’t reached out of court, the case will proceed to trial.
Shukla was arrested by court bailiffs on Wednesday and brought before the court. He was then remanded to Luzira Prison until his bail hearing on Friday.
