Bhopal/Nagpur: Retired 1993-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the Madhya Pradesh cadre, Ramesh S. Thete, has been arrested in Nagpur in connection with a fraud and cheque-bounce case. He was taken into custody from the Manish Nagar area on Wednesday by Bhopal’s MP Nagar police, with assistance from Nagpur’s Beltarodi police.
According to the available information, the court of Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) Kalpana Kotwal in Bhopal had declared Thete an absconder on March 23 and issued a permanent arrest warrant against him after he repeatedly failed to appear for court hearings.
Following his arrest, police are bringing him to Bhopal. He is expected to be produced before the district court after questioning.
Court Issued Permanent Arrest Warrant Against Ramesh Thete
The Bhopal court had issued the warrant after Thete failed to appear for several hearings despite being given multiple opportunities. Earlier arrest warrants had also been issued, but police were unable to execute them.
According to the court order sheet dated March 23, the circumstances suggested that the accused might be deliberately evading execution of the warrant.
The complainant had approached the court, stating that the accused remained absconding and had not appeared despite directions from the court. The complainant requested a permanent arrest warrant, following which the court allowed the application.
The court also directed that proceedings be initiated under Section 299 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), declaring Thete an absconder and ordering the issuance of a permanent arrest warrant. It further directed that the case be kept in the archives pending his appearance.
Cases Registered with MP Nagar, Habibganj Police and Lokayukta
Separate cases have reportedly been registered against Ramesh Thete with the MP Nagar and Habibganj police stations in Bhopal, as well as the Lokayukta.
In February 2023, the Lokayukta police registered a case against Thete and his wife, Manda Thete, in connection with an alleged bank loan transaction. The case involved a loan of approximately ₹68 lakh taken in 2001-02, which was allegedly repaid over a shorter period in 2012-13.
The transaction was investigated by the Lokayukta. Other allegations reported against Thete include disproportionate assets, bank fraud and cheque-bounce matters.
The allegations and the status of individual cases vary. The registration of a case or issuance of an arrest warrant does not, by itself, establish guilt.
Thete Had Claimed Acquittal in an Earlier Disproportionate Assets Case
Thete had previously questioned the handling of older Lokayukta cases and claimed that he had been acquitted by a court after a trial lasting around 10 years in a disproportionate assets case.
According to his account, the case involved allegations that he possessed assets disproportionate to his known sources of income, valued at approximately ₹41 lakh.
The reported acquittal claim relates to an earlier case. The current arrest concerns a fraud and cheque-bounce matter, and the legal status of the separate cases needs to be considered individually.
Who Is Ramesh S. Thete?
Ramesh S. Thete is a retired 1993-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the Madhya Pradesh cadre. He entered the IAS through direct recruitment via the UPSC Civil Services Examination. His educational qualification on record is a Master of Arts (M.A.) in English, and his home state is Maharashtra.
According to available service records, Thete’s last recorded posting was as Secretary in the Madhya Pradesh government’s Backward Classes and Minority Welfare Department and Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Caste Welfare Department. He also served as Commissioner, Backward Classes Welfare, in Bhopal.
The available service record lists one documented posting and one distinct location, with approximately 33 years of service. Thete retired from the IAS on July 31, 2020.
Ramesh Thete Retired from IAS in July 2020
Ramesh S. Thete is a retired Madhya Pradesh cadre IAS officer who joined the service in 1993. During his career, he held several administrative positions across Madhya Pradesh and also served in the Maharashtra government.
His reported postings included:
- 1994: First posting as Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) in Chhindwara.
- 1996: Served as SDM in Barwani.
- 1998: Served as Deputy Secretary in the Maharashtra government.
- 1999: Appointed Commissioner of the Narmada Valley Development Authority in Jabalpur.
- 2002: Served as Deputy Secretary in Bhopal.
- 2011: Held the position of Additional Commissioner in Ujjain and served in other administrative roles.
- 2013 onwards: Held various positions in Bhopal and other departments.
Thete retired from service on July 31, 2020. He had alleged that despite serving as an IAS officer, he was never appointed a district collector. He also claimed that he had been treated unfairly by the government and people associated with it, alleging that he was targeted because of his association with Ambedkarite ideology.
These were his personal allegations regarding his career and administrative experience.
Turned to Filmmaking After Retirement
After retiring from the IAS, Thete ventured into filmmaking and established a company called Ramesh Thete Films.
He directed the film The Battle of Bhima Koregaon, which was scheduled for a theatrical release on September 17, 2021. However, its release was reportedly postponed amid production-related challenges, including issues associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, disputes involving ND Studio and other difficulties.
The film has not been released, according to the supplied information.
Lokayukta Probe Involved ₹68 Lakh Bank Loan
The February 2023 Lokayukta case involving Thete and his wife centred on an alleged bank loan transaction of around ₹68 lakh. The loan was reportedly taken in 2001-02 and repaid in 2012-13 over a period described as shorter than expected.
The Lokayukta police investigated the transaction as part of the case. The allegations were reported separately from the current fraud and cheque-bounce case in which Thete has now been arrested.
Further legal proceedings in Bhopal are expected to clarify the next steps in the current matter.
What Happens Next?
Following his arrest in Nagpur, Thete is being brought to Bhopal by police. He is expected to be questioned and subsequently produced before the district court.
The court will determine the next course of legal proceedings in accordance with the applicable law. Further details regarding the current case, the specific allegations and the status of other proceedings may emerge as the investigation and court process continue.
