J

Chandigarh, Nov 2 (UNI) The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) strongly opposed the grant of bail to any of the accused allegedly involved in the Jammu and Kashmir sex scandal, when the matter came up for hearing in the Punjab and Haryana High Court today.

In separate written replies submitted before Justice Rajive Bhalla in regard to six of the total nine accused, now lodged in the high security Burail jail here, CBI standing counsel Rajan Gupta pointed out that all the accused were influential enough.

There was a valid apprehension about the possibility of tampering with the evidence or influencing the witnesses if the concession of bail was made available to them, the CBI asserted.

The replies in the case of three others would be submitted on November seven.

Significantly, the CBI counsel rebutted the contention of the petitioners that the girl who was alleged to have been raped by them, was not a minor. The CBI counsel has conveyed to the court that there was enough evidence to confirm that the victim was a minor.

After taking the replies on record, Justice Bhalla adjourned the hearing to November 8 when the petitioner's response to CBI stand and the agency's reply in regard to remaining three accused would be taken up. The accused include a former minister, an MLA, police and other officers and some businessmen.

UNI XC PS PA BST2058