The Delhi High Court has dismissed the bail pleas of arms dealer Abhishek Verma's Romanian wife Anca Maria Neacsu and a former Wing Commander of the Indian Air Force, Koka Rao, in a case registered against them by CBI for violation of Official Secrets Act (OSA).
Anca and Rao's bail pleas were rejected by the court in view of the "gravity of the offence" allegedly committed by them as they have been accused of possessing secret defence documents and supplying them to foreign nationals.
Justice Sunil Gaur was also of the view that it would be "premature" to "opine" that Section 3 (for passing sensitive information) of OSA is not attracted to the facts of the case.
"Upon considering the submissions advanced by both the sides and the material on record, I find that it would be premature for this Court to opine that Section 3 of Official Secrets Act, 1923 is not attracted to the facts of this case....
"The gravity of the offence is such which dissuades this Court to exercise its discretion to grant bail to both the petitioners at this stage....," the court said.
Anca and Rao had sought bail on the ground that probe in the matter is complete and they have been in custody for the last two and half years, therefore, their further detention would serve no purpose as the trial is likely to take time.
Verma, Anca, their company Ganton India Pvt Ltd and Rao have been named in the charge sheet by CBI under Section 3 of OSA and also for criminal conspiracy and theft from a place for custody of property under Indian Penal Code.
They are at present in judicial custody in the case.
The charge sheet had said copies of documents related to the three wings of Indian Defence forces were obtained by them from the Ministry of Defence, defence establishments and from those employed in Internet infrastructure (including Skype and email) to communicate secret and sensitive information to unauthorised persons.
