Court refuses bail to two accused in espionage case

Delhi’s Patiala House court on Wednesday denied bail to two persons, including a former army man as well as a serving military personnel, arrested for being allegedly supplying sensitive documents to Pakistan’s intelligence agency ISI.

The court dismissed the bail applications of the former army man, Munawwar Ahmad Mir and Farid Ahmad, who was serving as constable in 17, Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry division of the army.

“Taking into consideration all facts and circumstances of the case, the gravity of offence and the roles of accused persons and the modus operandi adopted in commission of crime and the pending investigation, no ground for grant of bail is made out. Hence, bail applications of the accused are dismissed,” Chief Metropolitan Magistrate of Patiala House court, Sanjay Khanagwal said.

Munawwar and Farid had filled their bail pleas before the Chief Metropolitan claiming that they have been falsely implicated in the case. Both accused argued, they are in the custody since December 4 and 6, 2015 respectively and the probe was already completed. The accused also claimed that provisions of the Official Secret Act (OSA) does not attract against them.

Crime Branch of Delhi Police opposed the bail pleas saying the investigation was still pending and the issue of national security was involved. The Police also said both the accused were active participants in the alleged offence and should not be allowed the bail.

Police said Munawwar and Farid were allegedly involved in supplying information relating to country’s national security to ISI and they were involved in anti-national activities.

The other accused arrested in the same espionage case are BSF head constable Abdul Rasheed, Mohd Sabar, a teacher by profession, and Kafaitullah Khan, alias, Master Raja, a resident of Rajouri district in Jammu and Kashmir.