HC reserves order on bail plea of accused in rail bribery case

Delhi High Court today reserved its verdict on bail pleas of four accused in the railway bribery case, including former minister Pawan Kumar Bansal's nephew Vijay Singla, who, the CBI contended, could tamper with evidence if released as he was an influntial person.
Opposing the bail plea of Singla, CBI counsel Rajdeepa Behura said that he was the "main person" whose influence was to be used for the appointment of the now suspended Railway Board member Mahesh Kumar.
"Singla was caught red handed along with other accused who were the 'main conspirators' and the offence committed by them was of a "grave" nature," the lawyer said.

Arguing that Singla is an influential person as his uncle is former railway minister and he can tamper with evidence if he was granted bail, the prosecutor said the charges in the case are yet to be framed by the trial court.
Justice Hima Kohli reserved the order in the Rs 10 crore cash-for-post railway bribery case after the counsel for the accused and CBI concluded their arguments in their bail pleas.
Singla, Kumar, businessman Narayan Rao Manjunath and alleged middleman Sandeep Goyal had moved the high court seeking bail after the trial court on July 12 had rejected their plea.

Appearing before Justice Kohli, Singla's counsel U U Lalit had earlier argued that the investigation is complete and his client has been in the custody for past four months.
"No purpose would serve if the accused remains in custody at this stage," the senior lawyer argued and sought bail for Singla.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had arrested 10 persons for their alleged roles in the bribe case in which a deal of Rs 10 crore was finalised for arranging one of the top positions in the Railway Board for Kumar, then the member (Staff) in the board.