A special CBI court in Jammu on Tuesday refused to grant interim bail to Hilal Rather, son of a former Jammu and Kashmir minister, in the Rs 177 crore bank fraud case rejecting his fears of contracting COVID-19 and noting that he is more at risk outside the prison.
While rejecting the application, the Special CBI Judge Rajesh Sekhri also noted that in the prevailing situation, he is more likely to contract the virus if he moves of the jail, and his release may frustrate the purpose behind the lockdown.
Rather had moved an application using WhatsApp on medical grounds before the Special CBI judge, Jammu seeking interim bail after the CBI filed a charge sheet against him in the Rs 177-crore J&K Bank loan fraud case, citing the prevailing threat of contracting coronavirus during incarceration, the officials said.
Terming the allegations of the CBI as fallacious, concocted and imaginary, Rather had sought release on bail citing his health condition which makes him "more susceptible to contract coronavirus infection in unhygienic conditions in jail."
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