Graft: Court grants bail to suspended health director

SHIMLA: A court here on Saturday granted bail to suspended state health services director Ajay Kumar Gupta. He was arrested by the state vigilance and anti-corruption bureau on graft charges on May 20, after an audio clip of him allegedly asking for ₹5 lakh bribe had surfaced online. Special judge Arvind Malhotra granted him conditional bail after hearing the arguments of public prosecutor Sandeep Atri and defence counsel Kashmir Singh Thakur. He directed Gupta to submit surety and personal bonds of ₹2 lakh each, besides prohibiting him from influencing or talking to any witnesses, and cooperating with the investigation agency.