NEW DELHI: Citing the Supreme Court judgment in the 2G spectrum case which held that bail is rule and jail is exception, the Delhi High Court on Thursday granted bail to former CWG Organising Committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi and OC former director general and co-accused VK Verma.
Kalmadi has been given bail nine months after being arrested by the CBI for his alleged involvement in a Commonwealth Games corruption case. Kalmadi, Verma and nine others had allegedly awarded a contract to Swiss Timing Omega at an exorbitant rate, causing a loss of over Rs 90 crore to the exchequer.
Justice Mukta Gupta directed Kalmadi and Verma to furnish before the trial court a bail bond of Rs 5 lakh each and two sureties of the like amount. “There is no allegation that the petitioners are likely to flee from justice and will not be available for the trial,” the court said while ordering them not to leave the country without prior permission of the trial court. Justice Mukta Gupta also held that there is no allegation of money trail to Kalmadi and Verma. “There is no evidence that the petitioner is threatening witnesses or interfering with evidence during investigation or trial,” she said.
Kalmadi had moved the High Court seeking bail citing the Supreme Court judgement in the 2G case and said it has been held that “bail is rule and jail is exception.”