The Karnataka High Court on Friday declined to grant bail to four accused persons in the I-Monetary Advisory (IMA) Group case, but granted bail to Syed Mujahid, a nominated councillor of the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike, who is also an accused, while observing that the investigation against him is almost complete and his mother is ill.
The court rejected the bail petitions of Nizamuddin A. and Afsar Pasha A., both directors of IMA Group, Dadapeer I. Asadulla, who is looking after educational institutions in Davangere, and Mohammed Haneef Afsar Ajeez, imam of a masjid in Shivajinagar. However, the court gave them liberty to move applications for bail before the trial court after the Central Bureau of Investigation completes its probe and submits its report to the trial court.
Justice K.N. Phaneendra, in his order on councillor Mujahid’s plea, said that the allegation against him is that he had sold his property to the IMA for an excessive amount, and, other than that, it appears the other allegations have to be proved during the course of a full-fledged trial. As the investigation against him appears to have concluded and merely because he is required for further investigation, his plea for release on bail cannot be declined, the court said while also noticing from medical records that his mother is severely ill.
While directing Mujahid to furnish a bond for ₹2 lakh and two sureties for like sums, the court told him to appear before the investigation officer as and when required, not leave the country without prior permission of the trial court during pendency of the investigation or trial, to mark his attendance once in 15 days before the investigation officer for a period of three months or till final report is submitted by the CBI.
