The Delhi high court on Wednesday granted bail to all five jailed accused in the cash-for-vote scam, including two former BJP MPs and L.K. Advani’s former aide Sudheendra Kulkarni. The court also gave anticipatory bail to BJP MP Ashok Argal, an accused in the case.
Justice M.L. Mehta gave relief to the six persons upon furnishing of a personal bond and a security bond of `2 lakhs each. Five petitioners — former BJP MPs Mahavir Singh Bhagora and Faggan Singh Kulaste, Sanjeev Saxena, a former aide of Rajya Sabha MP Amar Singh, alleged BJP activist Sohail Hindusta-ni and Kulkarni — were in judicial custody in Tihar Jail for the past few months and were denied bail by the trial court.
“All the petitions are admitted on bail on furnishing of a personal and a surety bond of `2 lakhs each,” Justice Mehta said.
The Delhi police earlier told the court it had no objection to bail for all accused in judicial custody as well as to Argal’s anticipatory bail plea as the final chargesheet in the case had been filed and their custodial investigation was not required.
Ms Sushma Swaraj, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, wrote on Twitter: “I am happy Faggan Singh Kulaste, Mahavir Bhagora and Sudheendra Kulkarni have been directed to be released on bail. They have done no wrong. They only exposed corruption.”
She added: “We’ll not rest only with this. We’ll fight till they are honourably exonerated.”