No bail for BSP MP linked to maid death

A court Friday rejected the bail plea of BSP MP Dhananjay Singh, accused of destroying evidence to shield his wife who has been arrested for torturing her maid who died.

Additional Sessions Judge Dharmesh Sharma said that if the MP was given bail, he could influence the witnesses.

"Having regard to the profile of the applicant (BSP MP) who has been involved in as many 31 heinous crimes including murder, kidnapping and dacoity, it is not difficult to assume that if he is enlarged on bail, he can influences the witnesses and thereby hamper the course of justice," the court said.

Judge Sharma also took note of prosecution's submission that there was delay in lodging a first information report (FIR) after the maid died.

This, the prosecution said, helped the accused to tamper with the CCTV footage.

The court has also observed that witnesses had been threatened and that police recorded their statement with much difficulty.

As the BSP MP was "reasonably connected with the offence" and had tried to doctor with the evidence, "he might intimidate, influence or try to win over the witnesses" if he got bail, the judge said.

"I agree there is no ground to grant bail to the applicant," he said.

Delhi Police Thursday opposed THE grant of bail to Dhananjay Singh, saying he had incited his spouse to beat up and ill-treat domestic helps.

Metropolitan Magistrate Gomati Manocha had Nov 20 dismissed the MP's bail plea.

The court also directed Delhi Police to protect the witnesses in the case.

The MP sought bail claiming the case against him was politically motivated.

Dhananjay Singh, who represents Jaunpur in Uttar Pradesh in the Lok Sabha, was arrested for destroying evidence and violating the Juvenile Justice Act.

His doctor-wife Jagriti was booked for murder, attempt to murder and for violating the Juvenile Justice.