Central Excise Commissioner seeks bail in graft case

Central Excise Commissioner (CEC) Anup Kumar Srivastava, fearing his arrest for allegedly receiving a bribe of R40 lakh from two businessman to shield them in an excise law violation case, on Tuesday moved a Delhi court seeking anticipatory bail.

Central Excise Commissioner (CEC) Anup Kumar Srivastava, fearing his arrest for allegedly receiving a bribe of Rs 40 lakh from two businessman to shield them in an excise law violation case, on Tuesday moved a Delhi court seeking anticipatory bail.

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Special CBI judge Talwant Singh, however, refused to grant interim relief to Srivastava and asked the CBI to file its reply on his plea by Thursday, when the hearing has been scheduled.

Accused of receiving bribe from the two businessmen, in collusion with two others, Srivastava is undergoing treatment in a hospital here.

Srivastava’s counsel Vikas Pahwa told the court, “The medical reports of Srivastava suggests he is having 100% blockage in heart and his kidney condition is such that it can collapse any time. He is apprehending that the moment he is discharged from the hospital, the CBI would arrest him."

CBI prosecutor VK Sharma opposed the plea, saying it was a serious matter and anticipatory bail should not be given to the accused, who has to be thoroughly interrogated.

Meanwhile, the special judge remanded the two other accused, central excise department superintendent Lallan Ojha and alleged middleman Hemant Gandhi, to judicial custody till January 18 after CBI said it does not require them any longer for custodial interrogation. They were produced before the court after expiry of their police custody.