Siddiqui's bail plea rejected

Mumbai, Jul 3 (UNI) The designated TADA court here today rejected the bail plea of extradited gangster Abu Salem's associate Riyaz Siddiqui, for his involvement in the 1993 serial bomb blasts case.

While rejecting the bail plea, Judge D U Mulla said as per the material available before the court, this was not a fit case for granting bail.

The court, however, directed the Superintendent of the Arthur Road Jail, where Siddiqui is interned, to provide him all the medical treatment as and when required as the bail was sought on merit and on medical grounds.

Earlier, while moving the bail plea, Siddiqui's counsel Farhana Shah told the court that her client had been languishing in jail for a prolonged period. He was suffering from various ailments and needed medical treatment in a hospital, Ms Shah contended. The plea was strongly opposed by CBI and chief public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam who told the court that the trial against the accused had already begun and witnesses havd already deposed. If the accused was released on bail at this stage, he could influence the witnesses and tamper with evidences, he contended.

Mr Nikam also contended that as regards the medical facilities, the government hospital was fully equipped to treat Siddiqui and he was being taken to the government run-J J Hospital periodically.

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