Court grants anticipatory bail to Karti's CA in INX Media case

A Delhi court today granted anticipatory bail to Karti Chidambaram's chartered accountant S Bhaskararaman in the CBI's INX Media case, and directed him to cooperate in the investigation.

Special Judge Sunil Rana granted the relief to Bhaskararaman, noting that the main accused, Karti Chidambaram, had already been granted bail by the Delhi High Court in the case on March 23.

"Applicant (Bhaskararaman) was earlier granted bail in the case of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on March 13 subject to certain terms and conditions and in compliance with one of the conditions, he had already surrendered his passport with the ED.

"In these circumstances, it can be said that there is no apprehension that the applicant is at a flight risk and there is no material to suggest that applicant will tamper with the evidence, as he had already handed over the documents to the CBI which were in his possession and knowledge," the court said.

It further said that for the purpose of interrogating the applicant, it is not necessary to keep him in the custody and he can be called as and when required.

"Personal liberty is of precious value as per our Constitution and a person should be presumed to be innocent till he is proved guilty after facing trial. Object of bail is to secure attendance of accused in the trial and bail cannot be withheld as a punishment.

"It is not the case of CBI that applicant had tampered with evidence during the aforesaid period or has influenced or threatened any witness in the past. Hence, to my mind the apprehension of CBI is that accused may influence witness or tamper with evidence, appears to be ill founded," it said.

The judge further said, "Considering the facts and circumstances of the case and discussion made above I am of the view that where there are reasonable grounds that petitioner is not likely to abscond or otherwise misuse his liberty while on bail, there seems to be no justification to require him first to submit to custody, remain in prison for some days and then apply for bail."