New Delhi: The Delhi High Court Friday extended the interim custody bail granted to an accused, arrested in 2017 in the Election Commission (EC) bribery case allegedly involving AIADMK leader TTV Dhinakaran and others, for treatment of his ailing mother in Chennai. A vacation bench of Justices Navin Chawla and Asha Menon extended till July 2, the interim custody bail on the ground that accused Sukesh Chandrashekar’s mother is seriously ill and requires hospitalisation and surgery.
“In the peculiar facts of the case, we extend the period of interim custody bail till July 2 subject to the conditions mentioned in June 4 order,” the bench said. Earlier he was granted interim custody bail for two weeks. The bench directed Mr Chandrashekar to further deposit an amount of ₹ 5 lakh with the Delhi Police towards the expenses of police escort towards lodging, boarding and other necessary expenses.
The court made it clear that the period spent by him during extension of interim custody bail shall not be counted as the period undergone by him in custody. It noted that the medical documents placed on the record of the patient have been verified by the authorities. Mr Chandrashekar was granted interim custody bail on June 4 by the high court to meet his ailing mother in Chennai. As he availed the relief from June 7, the period was expiring on Friday, that is, June 18.
Senior advocates Mukul Rohatgi and Parag Tripathi, representing Mr Chandrashekar, said the accused’s mother has to undergo a major surgery scheduled for June 24 and urged that the interim custody bail be extended by two weeks. The plea was opposed by the Delhi government additional standing counsel Avi Singh who said several police personnel have been diverted from their regular duties to Chennai and Mr Chandrashekar is on interim custody bail because of his own conduct and he shall apply for interim bail. The council had earlier argued that the accused has in the past abused the relief and liberty granted to him by attempting to suborn the police officials who were responsible for him during his remand. Earlier, the high court had said it does not see any plausible cause or reasonable apprehension to deny custody interim bail to Mr Chandrashekar.
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It had then also directed him to deposit an advance of ₹ 5 lakh with the Delhi Police towards the expenses of a police escort for travelling by air to-and-from Chennai with him and also towards their lodging, boarding and other necessary expenses. It had directed the accused to be stationed in Chennai at the address given by him and leave the place only when he needs to accompany his mother or consult doctors in relation to her medical condition and also made it clear that he shall not be entitled to the presence of any personal guards and will not socialise with guests.