CBI urges court to cancel Abhay’s bail

New Delhi, August 17

The CBI today sought cancellation of bail granted by a Delhi court to Leader of Opposition in the Haryana Assembly Abhay Chautala for going to attend Rio Olympics without its permission. He is an accused in a disproportionate assets (DA) case.

Seeking court’s direction to Abhay to surrender, CBI said he was no longer the president of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and there was “no public interest” in his visit to Brazil to attend Olympics.

Special Public Prosecutor Ajay Kumar Gupta argued it was not necessary for the court to mention in the bail order that the accused was required to take its permission before leaving the country. “If it is not mentioned in the court order, does this mean that the accused can tamper with evidence? Similarly, it is implied that the accused has to seek court’s permission before going abroad,” he submitted.

On hearing the arguments, Special CBI Judge Sanjay Garg-I, reserved the order for August 22.

The court had earlier sought CBI’s reply after Abhay’s counsel sought exemption from personal appearance of the politician on the ground that he had gone to Rio de Janeiro for Olympics. The court had wondered how the politician had left the country without its permission.

The defence counsel had said Abhay, being a sports administrator and ex-president of IOA, had gone to attend Olympics from August 2 to 25.

He had also said there was no specific condition imposed by the court in the bail order with regard to seeking its permission to go abroad. The court also heard arguments on a plea by CBI seeking to place on record some additional documents in the case, which was opposed by the defence counsel. The court also reserved its order on the application for August 22.

The CBI had lodged a case of disproportionate assets against INLD chief Om Prakash Chautala and his sons Ajay and Abhay on a complaint of Congress leader Shamsher Singh Surjewala. — PTI