Jerath’s bail rejected

CHANDIGARH, Jan 29: District and Sessions Judge B.S. Bedi today dismissed the bail application filed by suspended UT Chief Engineer and a...

CHANDIGARH, Jan 29: District and Sessions Judge B.S. Bedi today dismissed the bail application filed by suspended UT Chief Engineer and accused in the Engineering Department kickbacks case K.K. Jerath in FIR No 3 registered against him at the Vigilance Police Station on October 26, 1998. The case relates to electrical works at Sector 32 Government Medical Hospital.

Arguing over the bail application yesterday, counsel for Jerath contended that the case against his client was one of "malafide and discriminatory intentions" because none of the other accused had been arrested though they were alleged to be in criminal conspiracy. The very fact that three FIRs had been lodged against one person, spoke about the vindictive attitude of the Administration, he added.

The counsel also stated that the prosecution got some of the documents in the challan attested by Jagdish Mittar who is the main accused in the case. He said that OSD Asa Nand had even been quoted as saying that the Administration wanted only Jerath and no other accused to be arrested.

Story continues below this ad

The District Attorney who opposed the bail application, however, stated that the rest of the accused were not wanted by the police as they had already cooperated with the prosecution by joining the investigation.

He added that Jerath had already been declared a proclaimed offender and if released on bail, he might try to influence the witnesses.

Jerath’s counsel pleaded for bail stating that while the other accused had been reinstated in service, Jerath continued to be in judicial custody.

The bail application was moved on January 14. It may be recalled that Jerath surrendered before the court on November 27 and was sent to police custody for 12 days. He was later remanded to judicial custody by the Chief Judicial Magistrate in all the three cases registered against him.