Nine Srinagar sex scandal accused granted bail

Chandigarh, Nov 22 (UNI) The Punjab and Haryana High Court today granted bail to nine of the 14 accused, including two former Jammu and Kashmir ministers, in the Srinagar sex scandal case whose trial is being conducted at the District and Sessions court here.

The nine granted bail by Justice Rajive Bhalla include sacked Jammu and Kashmir Additional Advocate General Anil Sethi, BSF DIG K C Padhi, Riaz Ahmed Kawa, sitting MLAs and former state ministers -- Raman Mattoo and Ghulam Ahmed Mir -- Mohd Yusuf Mir, Mehraj-ud-din Malik, Mohd Ashraf Mir and Shabir Ahmed.

Out of the 14, 13 were lodged at the Burail Central Jail here, while one was already on bail granted by a Srinagar court following their arrest by the CBI from Jammu and Kashmir.

The next date of hearing in the case, against the 14 accused in the Chandigarh District and Sessions Court, is December five.

The other four accused, lodged in prison, include scandal kingpin Sabina, her husband Abdul Hamid, Masud Ahmed and Abdul Hamidullah.

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