Thaindian News

New Delhi, Sep 15 (IANS) A Delhi court Thursday granted interim bail till Sep 19 to Rajya Sabha member and former Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh, now in custody for his alleged involvement in the 2008 cash-for-votes scam, on grounds of his “fluctuating” health.

Considering Amar Singh’s interim bail application citing his health condition, Special Judge Sangeeta Dhingra Sehgal accepted it and asked him to submit a personal and surety bond of Rs.200,000 each.

“It appears that the health of the accused is fluctuating…the accused being a member of parliament - Rajya Sabha - and a known figure cannot be shown extra indulgence, but he must not also be subjected to undue harshness as human angle can never be lost sight of by the courts of equity, justice and good conscience,” the court said while pronouncing the judgment.

The court’s decision came as a big relief to the leader who was diagnosed with post-renal transplant urinary tract infection, diarrhoea, dehydration, diabetes and hypothyroid hypertension.

The court, however, asked the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) — where he has been under observation since Monday — to submit a daily report on his medical condition.

“In case, the accused is discharged from AIIMS before Sep 19, the AIIMS director shall apprise the court without loss of time,” the court added.

The court also imposed several conditions on the 55-year-old leader — that he should not leave the jurisdiction of Delhi courts, should not tamper with the evidence or try to influence the witnesses.

It also asked the MP to submit his passport and join the investigation as and when required.

The director of the AIIMS and Tihar Jail authorities Wednesday submitted Amar Singh’s health reports, saying he needed to be hospitalised as he was unwell.

“His white blood cells count has increased and is spreading infection. The urine culture test has been repeated. This is suggestive of severe urinary tract infection (UTI)… because of his infection, he needs to be hospitalised,” the report said.

Amar Singh’s creatinine level too had gone up by 30 percent and he was vomiting regularly.

The Rajya Sabha member was also being given psychiatric consultation in the AIIMS for his anxiety and restlessness.

Amar Singh’s relatives, who refused to name themselves, told IANS that his condition was stable and he was better than yesterday.

The court will hear Amar Singh’s regular bail plea on Sep 19.

Amar Singh was arrested Sep 6 for his alleged involvement in an attempt to bribe MPs ahead of the July 2008 parliament trust vote.

On July 22, 2008, three BJP MPs waved wads of currency notes in the Lok Sabha ahead of the trust vote, alleging they were given the money to vote in favour of the Manmohan Singh government.

Amar Singh, a diabetic, underwent a renal transplant in September 2009 and intestinal surgery 10 years ago. Besides, he is also a patient of hypertension, tuberculosis infection, chronic kidney disease and urinary tract infection.