UK court grants bail to Dewani

H S RaoLondon, Feb 25 (PTI) NRI businessman Shrien Dewani,accused of hiring a hitman to murder his Indo-Swedish wifeAnni on their honeymoon in South Africa, has been granted bailby a UK court after his father insisted his son would go on toprove his innocence.

31-year-old Dewani appeared in Woolwich Crown Court,south London yesterday after allegedly taking a massive drugsoverdose in a bid to kill himself.

The South African authorities, who want to try him forthe murder of 28-year-old Anni last year, called for his bailto be revoked and for him to be remanded in custody.

But he was allowed to return to his family home afterhis father Prakash pledged to ensure he came to no harm.

Care home tycoon Prakash, who is a qualifiedpharmacist, wept in the witness box as he insisted his sonwould go on to prove his innocence.

His emotional outburst sparked extraordinary scenes asDewani, 31, sobbed and wailed uncontrollably in the dock atthe court.

According to a report in The Express, the court wastold that police feared Dewani might die as he was taken byambulance to Bristol Royal Infirmary on Sunday night after hissister found him collapsed in his bedroom at the family homein nearby Westbury-on-Trym.

He had swallowed up to 46 tablets including sleepingpills, anti depressants and Valium.

Ben Watson, for the South African authorities, saidDewani took a "massive drug overdose" after telling his familyhe wanted to take his own life.

He said detaining him in custody was "necessary" forhis safety.

Prakash told the court: "Our family is very importantto us, my innocent son is even more valued. We will doanything as a family to keep him safe and prove hisinnocence." PTI HSR