Lawyer Kimani Wachira
A victim in a Sh 254 million theft case involving a former employee of Printing Services Limited has strongly opposed his application to travel to India.
Through lawyer Kimani Wachira, Director Malkiat Singh Dhillon said the accused was seeking a way to escape the jurisdiction of the court because he had not produced a medical report to support his application.
When the matter came before Magistrate Carolyn Nyaguthi on Friday, April 4, 2025, the court was informed that Cheekati Narasimha Rao wanted to travel to India to meet his father, who is a doctor, and seek medical treatment.
Wachira argued that the amount allegedly stolen from his client was substantial and that the accused could fail to return to Kenya if allowed to travel.
“The money stolen from my client is a proceed of crime and since it is a huge amount, the suspect may not return to the country to continue with the case,” Wachira said.
The lawyer said the defence had failed to provide sufficient evidence showing that Rao was seriously ill and required treatment in India.
According to the victim, having a one-way ticket would not guarantee that the accused would return to Kenya. He also argued that Rao had not presented a genuine reason for the release of his passport.
Wachira further submitted that Kenya has hospitals ranging from Level One to Level Six where the accused could seek medical treatment.
He also questioned the claim that Rao’s father is a medical doctor in India.
“Even if that were to be true, he is not the only one who needs to go and see the father,” Wachira said.
Victim questions medical evidence
While opposing the application, Wachira said the accused had not presented a medical report from a doctor in Kenya showing that he was suffering from a condition requiring treatment abroad.
Cheekati Narasimha Rao is accused of stealing Sh 254,461,768, the property of Printing Services Limited, which allegedly came into his possession by virtue of his employment.
The prosecution alleges that he committed the offence on diverse dates between January 1, 2016, and August 31, 2024, in Nairobi, jointly with others who were not before the court.
Rao is also charged with forging the signature of the managing director of Printing Services Limited.
Accused seeks permission to travel to India
In his application, Rao said his father, who is a medical doctor, wanted him to travel to India for treatment.
“I have screws on the neck, I am 80 years old and ailing, and I am very uncomfortable because of this neck injury I suffered in the year 2024,” he told the court through his lawyer.
Rao further argued that he would not abscond from court. He offered to add Sh 500,000 to his cash bail, which would be released after he returned to Kenya.
The accused also opposed Wachira’s arguments, accusing the lawyer of acting like a prosecutor and medical doctor.
He maintained that he remains innocent until proven guilty and urged the court to release his travel documents.
Lawyer disputes accused’s medical claims
Wachira, however, disputed the medical evidence presented by Rao.
He argued that the C-file presented in court did not amount to a medical report but was a hospital document showing that Rao had visited a hospital as an outpatient in 2024.
“The applicant has already been treated and given medication and neck brace is evidence of medication and is comfortable,” Wachira said.
He insisted that no medical report from a doctor had shown that Rao was still experiencing pain.
“We do not have any neurological expert showing there is a problem,” Wachira told the court.
The victim’s lawyer maintained that Rao could receive treatment in Kenya.
“If he has to be treated in India, there must be sufficient evidence why he cannot be treated in the country and India should be the last option,” he said.
Wachira also argued that Rao is not a Kenyan citizen and could therefore pose a flight risk if allowed to travel outside the country.
Rao faces forgery charge
In addition to the Sh 254 million theft case, Rao is charged with forging the signature of the managing director of Printing Services Limited.
According to the charge sheet, Rao allegedly forged Malkiat Singh Dhillon’s signature on a letter appointing and promoting him to the position of Production Manager at Printing Services Limited.
He allegedly presented the letter as having been signed by Dhillon.
The alleged offence occurred on April 1, 2010, at an unknown location within Kenya, with intent to deceive.
Rao denied the charges before Chief Magistrate Lukas Onyina and was released on a cash bail of Sh 3 million.
