New Delhi: A Delhi court has dismissed the bail application of former BSP MP Dhananjay Singh’s dentist wife Jagriti Singh, facing trial in her maid’s murder case, considering the “extreme brutality” with which the offence was allegedly committed.
Additional Sessions Judge Amit Bansal denied relief to Jagriti while accepting the contention of the prosecutor that she might misuse the liberty by trying to influence witnesses.
“In view of the above said discussion, facts and circumstances of the case and the gravity of the offence, the applicant/accused Jagriti Singh is not entitled to any bail at this stage and her bail application is accordingly dismissed,” the court said.
The judge added “keeping in view gravity of the offence, the nature of the offence and the extreme brutality with which the offence was committed, there seems to be substance in the submissions of prosecutor for State that if admitted to bail, the applicant (Jagriti) may misuse the liberty of bail by trying to influence the other public witnesses except prosecution witnesses 1 and 2 (who were her domestic helps and now stated to be in police protection)”.
The court said as per the prosecution’s case, these two domestic helps had suffered serious brutalities at the hands of Jagriti and they may not be able to depose freely and she might also try to flee from justice.
Jagriti’s counsel had sought bail saying she was a woman suffering from several health ailments and was in custody since November 5, 2013 and examination-in-chief of the two material witnesses, domestic helps, was almost over.
He argued that no fruitful purpose would be served by keeping her in custody and even co-accused and her husband Dhananjay had already been granted bail in the case.
The prosecutor opposed her bail saying the allegations against Jagriti were very serious in nature and she has been charged for the alleged offences of murder, causing grievous hurt, criminal intimidation and destruction of evidence.
He argued that Jagriti allegedly used to brutally assault her domestic helps due to which one of the maids Rakhee Bhadra had died.Regarding Jagriti’s medical condition, the court noted in its order that from her medical record, it seemed she was getting proper treatment in the jail and when it was required, she was also taken to AIIMS for necessary treatment.
The court is currently recording statements of the two domestic helps in an in-camera proceeding.
The couple was arrested on November 5, 2013 in connection with the death of their 35-year-old maid Rakhee Bhadra, a resident of West Bengal.
While Dhananjay is facing trial for alleged offence of destruction of evidence only, Jagriti was put on trial for various offences punishable under the IPC, including murder.
While Dhananjay is out on bail, Jagriti, who was a dental surgeon at a government hospital here, is currently in judicial custody.
The court had earlier framed charges against Jagriti under various sections of the IPC, including 302 (murder), 506 (criminal intimidation), 324 (voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means).
The court had discharged Dhananjay for alleged offences under various provisions of the IPC, including 109 (punishment of abetment of offence) read with 302 (murder), 120B (criminal conspiracy) and 307 (attempt to murder).
PTI
PTI