Shivakumar's bail plea dismissed

In a setback to Karnataka Congress leader D K Shivakumar, arrested in a money laundering case by the Enforcement Directorate, a Delhi court Wednesday dismissed his bail plea saying his release at the crucial stage of investigation may hamper the investigation. Special Judge Ajay Kumar Kuhar declined to grant any relief to Shivakumar, currently lodged in Tihar jail, while noting that he is an influential person and may influence the witnesses or tamper with documents.

"The investigation in the present case is still at the initial stage. In the course of arguments, the ED has shown certain documents like the list of 317 bank accounts and other documents of properties etc which show that investigation is still at the crucial stage of examining the documents and their nexus with the assets of the applicant/accused," the judge said. The applicant is an influential person and the apprehension that he may "influence the witnesses or have some tampering with documents", cannot be treated as unfounded, he said.

"The investigating agency must have a full, fair and free chance to investigate in depth so that it can reach to a logical conclusion. The release of the applicant at such crucial stage of investigation may hamper the investigation. Therefore, I am of the considered view that the applicant is not entitled for bail at this stage of investigation," the judge said. The court said that no doubt that while considering the bail application court has to be conscious of the liberty of an individual but it cannot ignore the interest of society as such.