Bangaru Laxman seeks bail in fictitious defence deal case

"I am 72 year-old man and have already undergone a bypass surgery. Grave prejudice would be caused to me if my sentence (jail term) is not suspended and moreover, I am not going to run away from the jurisdiction of this court," the counsel for Bangaru told Justice A K Pathak during a hearing on Bangaru's appeal against his conviction by a lower court.

Senior advocate Sandeep Sethi, appearing for Bangaru who is in jail since April 28, cited various case laws to assail conviction of the dalit leader saying "if a man is committing an offence, you film him in a sting operation, but you cannot entice and induce a man to commit an offence."

"Inducing and enticing a person to commit an offence is is impermissible in law," he said.

"It is an undisputed fact that the man, who claims to be a member of media, lived with an MP of other party and the CD of the alleged sting operation was not sealed," the lawyer said.

The alleged amount received by the convict was meant for the party fund and a receipt was given even prior to telecast of the sting operation, he said.

"I am not going to decide the matter on merit at this juncture... Come after two-three months," Justice Pathak said but later fixed the matter for hearing on August 14.

Earlier, Bangaru was sentenced to four years in jail, besides a fine of Rs one lakh, after being convicted under the Prevention of Corruption Act for accepting Rs one lakh bribe from a fake arms dealer in a fictitious deal in 2001. (More)