Additional Sessions Judge Sidharth Sharma dismissed the application seeking protection from arrest, considering that the matter was "serious" and the offence was "not compoundable", as he rejected submissions of defence counsel that the parties had arrived at a compromise.
"Considering the facts that the matter is serious and offences are not compoundable and considering the evidence so far, I do not find it a fit case for grant of anticipatory bail. Applications are therefore dismissed," the judge said.
An FIR was registered against the minister and four others at Jafrabad Police Station in Northeast Delhi early this year for alleged offences under sections 120B (criminal conspiracy), 387 (putting person in fear of death or of grievous hurt, in order to commit extortion) and 389 (putting person in fear of accusation of offence, in order to commit extortion) of the IPC.
According to the police, the minister had sent co-accused Mohsin at the residence of the complainant, stopped the construction work and asked him to meet Imran in Jafrabad.
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When the complainant requested that the amount was too high, they abused him and Mohsin showed a pistol, it alleged and also claimed that Imran also threatened the complainant and his brother that they would get him falsely implicated in a rape or murder case, if the money was not paid.
Seeking the relief, the defence counsel submitted that the parties have reached a compromise and were likely to move Delhi High Court for quashing of the FIR.
The court, in its order, noted that the investigating officer has shown that there were recorded conversation between the accused and complainant and also of the junior engineer claiming pressure from the minister.