DNK International By Our Reporter,Nairobi.
A former general manager in a leading publishing firm has been charged afresh with stealing over Sh256.461.768 million from the company.
Cheekati Narsimha Rao, who worked at Printing Services Limited denied committing the offence before Milimani principal magistrate Caroline Nyaguthii after the prosecution amended the chargesheet.
Rao is accused of stealing the money from the firm on diverse dates between January 1, 2016 and August 31, 2024.
It is alleged that he committed the offence, jointly with others not before court.
The magistrate directed the accused to remain on his previous cash bail of Sh 3 million until the hearing and determination of the case.
The charge said the money came into his possession by virtue of his employment.
The former manager was further accused of forging the signature of the owner of the publishing firm Malkiat Singh Dhillon and promoting himself to the position of production manager.
he is further accused of making a document without authority in that on diverse dates between January 1, 2016 and August 31,2024 at unknown place within the republic of Kenya, without lawful authority or excuse, he made a false stamp impression purporting them to be the official stamp of printing services Limited on invoice and delivery notes, with intent to deceive.
The prosecution told the court that he committed the offence on April 1 2010 at an unknown place , with intent to deceive.
Earlier Singh through his lawyer Kimani Wachira had applied for the court to compel Rao to deposit his passport in court citing his previous attempts to leave the country.
The court has since declined to allow the accused persons from travelling out of the country since he is a flight risk and may abscond the jurisdiction of the court should he be allowed to travel.
According to an affidavit by investigating officer Corporal Lucus Juma, the accused had attempted to flee Kenya before to evade trial.
“The applicant (Rao) previously attempted to flee the jurisdiction and fly away to India after his employer lodged a complaint with the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) against him. He booked a one-way flight to India on October 18,2024, after he became aware of the complaint,” officer Juma said.
The complainant, in an affidavit by Printing Services Director Malkiat Singh Dhillon, also opposed the application urging the court to dismiss it.
Dhillon, through lawyer Kimani Wachira had urged the court that should it be inclined to release his passport for him to travel to India, he should deposit over Sh 254 million in court as security.
“In the unlikely event that this court is inclined to grant the applicant’s prayers, he should be required to deposit Sh 254,461,768 in court as security to guarantee his return for trial,” Dhillon said.
Wachira submitted that the interests of justice necessitate that Rao remains within this court’s jurisdiction to ensure accountability and prevent flight from trial
The court heard that the ongoing investigations are at a critical stage requiring unrestricted access to Rao for statements, clarifications, and investigative procedures.
“Releasing his passport would significantly hinder the progress of these investigations.”
The court heard that Rao’s attempt to provide documentary evidence in support of his application should be disregarded as the attached documents lack authenticity and appear to be fabricated to mislead the court.
According to Wachira, the circumstances surrounding Rao’s application demonstrate a clear intention to obstruct justice, evade trial, and escape legal consequences.
He added that Rao will suffer no prejudice if his passport remains in custody of the court as he has not presented any genuine reason necessitating its release.
The Director dismissed Rao’s claim that he had been summoned by his father in India. He said it is merely a pretext to abscond, as his father has been in the care of other family members without requiring his presence; after all, Rao is hardly in India despite his father being sick.
The complainant had failed to provide any compelling evidence of the urgency or necessity of his physical presence in India, and he can communicate with his family via alternative means such as video calls, WhatsApp, and other media platforms.
[DNK-International@March 27,2026]
