HC reserves ruling on Amit Jogi bail

Bilaspur, Apr 27 (UNI) The Chhattisgarh High Court today reserved its ruling on a bail plea by former state chief minister Ajit Jogi's son Amit, prime accused in the murder of the then NCP state treasurer Ram Avtar Jaggi.

Chief Justice Subray Rama Nayak heard arguments by Defence Counsel Surendra Singh, CBI Advocate Bhisham Kinger and state government representative Additional Advocate-General Pramod Verma.

For the past ten months, Amit is incarcerated in the District Jail, Raipur. On December 23, 2005, the then chief justice Anang Kumar Pattnaik struck down another bail application.

Mr Singh submitted that Amit was ''fully cooperating'' with the CBI. A High Court directive to a lower court for conducting daily hearings, and delivering a judgement within six months, could not be obeyed.

''During the period, several CBI witnesses turned hostile and therefore my client should be granted bail,'' he added.

Additional Sessions Judge Shivmangal Pandey comprises a special bench of the District Court, Raipur, and is conducting daily hearings.

Mr Jaggi was gunned down at Raipur in June 2003 and Amit was arrested by the CBI on July 1, 2005.

UNI XC-AC YA RK1535