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SC rejects Jain’s bail plea
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 5 — The Supreme Court today declined a special leave petition (SLP) filed by Mr N.K. Jain, Home Secretary, Chandigarh Administration, seeking anticipatory bail.

Mr Jain apprehending arrest in a case of corruption registered by the Special Cell of the CBI,preferred this SLP against an order of the Punjab and Haryana High Court for his “custodial interrogation in the case”.

The Supreme Court also turned down his plea of allowing his lawyer to be present during his interrogation. The court also observed that this was the time when cases of corruption were taken seriously and taken to their logical conclusion.

Mr Justice K.T. Thomas and Mr Justice R.P. Sethi dismissed the argument that Office Superintendent K.B. Goel, on whose confessional statement the case has been registered, has retracted his statement and further it was a minor case of a few lakhs of rupees. The court also did not accept the argument that since Goel was also co-accused in the case, he could not be relied upon.

The court observed that more facts and truth would come out after custodial interrogation of Mr Jain.

It may be recalled that Special cell of the CBI had registered a case of corruption against Mr Jain on April 6 and his house was searched on April 10 during the second attempt as it was found locked when the raiding party went there on April 7. Though Mr Jain was asked to appear at the CBI office for further interrogation and questioning, he had not made himself available till date. His earlier applications for anticipatory bail had been rejected by the Special Judge of the CBI and the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

Meanwhile, Mr Jain informed the CBI office here that he would appear for interrogation on Monday — May 8.