New Delhi: Karnataka Government on Thursday
told the Supreme Court that PDP leader Abdul Nasser Madani, a
key accused in the Bangalore bomb blast case, could pose a
major threat to national security if released on bail.
Appearing before a bench of justices Markandeya Katju
and Gyan Sudha Mishra, senior counsel TR Andhiarujina
disputed the claim of Madani that he was suffering from a host
of ailments necessitating his release on bail.
"The medical illness and ailments claimed by him are
all a smokescreen to come out on bail and engage in fresh
conspiracies," the counsel told the bench. The counsel further
said that Madani was the key conspirator in not only the
Bangalore blasts but also Surat and Ahmedabad bomb blasts.
The counsel made the submission after Justice Katju,
heading the bench, indicated that the court may grant bail to
Madani on medical grounds, though not on merit, as he was on a
wheelchair and suffering from a host of medical problems like
slip disc, spondylyitis, hypertension etc.
However, senior counsel Shanti Bhushan appearing for
Madani alleged that his client was innocent and falsely
implicated.
Bhushan said that Madani was kept in prison for over
nine-and-half years in connection with Coimbatore bomb blasts
but was eventually acquitted by the court.
The apex court after hearing the arguments asked
Karnataka to file its objections in an affidavit and asked
Madani to file his reply by Tuesday while posting the matter
for further hearing to next Wednesday.
At the last hearing too Justice Katju expressed
surprise as to how a person on a wheel chair could pose a
threat if released on bail.
Two persons were killed and 20 injured when serial
blasts rocked Bangalore city in nine locations in 2008.
However, Justice Misra pointed out that the accused
was facing the serious charge of being involved in the blasts
which claimed lives.
On February 11, the Karnataka High Court had rejected
Madani`s plea on the ground that if bail was granted to him
it would put the security of the state and the nation in
jeopardy.
But the High Court directed jail authorities to take
steps to ensure that the health condition of Madani, who is
disabled and suffering from different ailments, does not
deteriorate and he is given necessary medical help.
The court said available material and statements of
witnesses indicated that Madani was in constant touch with the
other accused before and after the blasts and also harboured
some of them by giving them shelter in his orphanage in
Kerala.
On the contention of senior defence counsel BV
Acharya that there was "no direct evidence" of Madani``s
involvement in the criminal conspiracy, the High Court had
said, "There is seldom ever that direct evidence is there in
such cases. Conspiracy by very nature is hatched in complete
secrecy otherwise the whole purpose will be frustrated."
Madani, arrested in Kerala on August 17 last year, is
lodged in Central Jail, Bangalore. He was one of the main
accused in the 1998 Coimbatore serial blasts that killed 58
people but was acquitted.
PTI
