Cong leader Kripashankar Singh, son get pre-arrest bail

The sessions court here today granted pre-arrest bail to Congress leader Kripashankar Singh and his son in a 2012 case in which they are accused of possessing bullets beyond the permissible limit.
"Prima-facie a case is made for granting anticipatory bail," said the judge A M A Khan while granting pre-arrest bail to Singh and his son Narendra.
Prosecutor Sumesh Punjwani told the court that as the charge sheet had been filed, Singh and his son need not apprehend arrest and, hence, the applications may be rejected. The police would not arrest them, he submitted.
But Singh and his son's lawyer K H Giri said there was apprehension that once they appear in the magistrate's court, they may be remanded in judicial custody, as once a charge sheet is filed the magistrate has to remand the accused in judicial custody until the bail application is decided.

When judge Khan asked the prosecutor if there were any other objections, Punjwani replied in the negative.
The court then granted Singh and his son pre-arrest bail on a bond of Rs 1 lakh each.

The crime branch on Tuesday had filed a 400-page charge sheet against them.
While attaching Singh's properties as per the order of the Bombay High Court in March 2012, a special investigation team had stumbled upon 400 live bullets at his Bandra flat.
There were 14 bullets of 12 bore, 72 cartridges of .32 bore, nine of 7.65 bore and 15 bullets of 8 mm calibre, all beyond the permissible limit.

After checking the firearm licenses issued to Singh and his family members, the SIT concluded that these 110 bullets were in excess of what was permitted by the licences. After that, a case under Arms Act was registered.
The High Court had in February 2012 ordered Singh's prosecution for criminal misconduct under Prevention of Corruption Act and attachment of his properties.