JD (S) Vice President bail plea rejected

New Delhi, May 9 (UNI) The Supreme Court today dismissed the bail application of Bharathi Urs, daughter of former Karnataka Chief Minister Devraj Urs in, the murder of a young woman lawyer.

Urs is under arrest for her alleged involvement in the murder of Chitra Lekha Urs, an advocate.

Bharati is in judicial custody since January 2005.

A bench comprising Ashok Justice Ashok Bhan and Justice Lokeshwar Singh Panta, however, permitted her to undergo treatment at Narayan Vidyalaya Hospital under the supervision of Dr Devi Parasad Shetty under police surveillance.

The court directed that Janta Dal (s) vice-president will remain an indoor patient and will not be kept in the hospital for a day more than what is required as per the advice of Dr Shetty.

Bharati who is also the treasurer of JD (s) headed by the former PM H D Dewe Gowda will pay the expenses of her medical treatment as well as the expenses involved for posting police personnel to keep her under surveillance.

Counsel for the complainant, however, pleaded that she had been in the nursing homes and hospitals of her own choice since February 28, 2005 and free and fair investigation and trial is not possible as she is very powerful and influential political personality in the state.

She is reportedly suffering from cardiological problems and a highrisk patient.

The court permitted her to shift to the hospital for treatment after senior counsel Harish Salve appearing for her pleaded he was not pressing for bail provided she was allowed to shift to a private nursing home for treatment under police surveillance.

UNI AKS/SC SI KN1412