Kashmir sex-scandal bail plea on Sep 25

Chandigarh, Sep 16: A local court today fixed September 25 as the next date of hearing into the Srinagar sex-scandal expose, after a plea was filed by the Jammu and Kashmir government, citing its failure to bringing the 13 accused here due to ''security reasons''.

Following this the bail application of the accused, presently behind the bars, could be heard on September 25 in the court of Sessions Judge B S Mehndiratta here.

The Supreme Court had shifted the trial of 14 of the 18 accused in the sensational sex-scandal case to Chandigarh on September four, following a petition by the 14 accused pleading for their hearing outside the state.

Of the 14 accused, 13 are behind the bars while one is on bail.

They include former Jammu and Kashmir Minister Ghulam Hassan Mir, Independent MLA and former Minister Raman Mattoo, BSF DIG K C Padhi, former Jammu and Kashmir Additional Advocate General Anil Sethi, DSP Mohammad Ashraf Mir, suspended Principal Secretary (Planning) Iqbal Khandey and hotel owner Riyaz Ahmed Kawa.

They had contended before the Apex Court that ''no lawyer' in Kashmir was willing to defend them and the Jammu and Kashmir Bar Association (JKBA) had already resolved not to give them any legal aid.

UNI