Interim bail to ex-BSP MP extended, but he will remain in jail

New

, May 20: A Delhi court on Tuesday extended till August 18 the interim bail granted to former

MP Dhananjay Singh, facing trial for allegedly repeatedly raping a woman between July 2005 and March 2009.

However, Dhananjay will have to remain in judicial custody as he surrendered before another court today after expiry of his interim bail in the murder case of his maid in which he has been chargesheeted along with his wife Jagriti Singh.

Additional Sessions Judge Sarita Birbal granted bail to Dhananjay on a personal bond of Rs one lakh and surety of like amount in the rape case.

After he surrendered in the other case, Additional Sessions Judge Lokesh Kumar Sharma directed that he be taken into custody and fixed the matter for July 5.

In the rape case, advocate S P M Tripathi, who appeared for Dhananjay, sought bail for his client on the ground that the woman's statement has already been recorded by the court and no evidence has come against him.

His counsel said even the alleged victim has not supported the allegations levelled against Singh, a former MP from Jaunpur in Uttar Pradesh, in the case.

The court also imposed conditions on Dhananjay, including that he would not leave the country and would not make any attempt to contact any of the prosecution witnesses.

The court summoned the remaining prosecution witnesses, including doctors and police officials, in the case on August 18 for recording of their statements.

The Supreme Court had on April 9 granted interim bail to Dhananjay to file his nomination from Jaunpur Lok Sabha seat in Uttar Pradesh.

He, however, lost the election. ASJ Birbal had earlier while granting interim bail to Dhananjay said that the complainant, a railway employee, has not supported the case of the prosecution and she had deposed that he had "neither committed rape on her nor threatened her".

PTI