New Delhi: Supreme Court on Monday refused to cancel the bail of BJP member of Parliament Ramakant Yadav, facing a murder charge and alleged attempt on the life of Maulana Mohd Amir Rashadi President Rashtriya Ulema Council.
Abdul Rehman, said a to be a close follower of Rashadi, was murdered at the alleged instance of the MP on August 12, 2009, at Phoolpur village in UP`s Azamgarh district in the murder attempt reportedly aimed the Ulema leader who was proceeding in a convoy of vehicles. The BJP MP was arrested on August 24 and cases for murder were filed against him and his associates. He was granted conditional bail almost a year later on August 6, 2010, by the Allahabad High Court, following which Rashadi appealed in the apex court.
The Ulema leader claimed the MP, being a powerful leader, was constantly threatening him and his followers if he failed to withdraw the case and hence sought cancellation of his bail. A bench of justices P Sathasivam and J Chelameshwar, however, declined to interfere with bail saying the High Court has made it clear that in case of breach of any of the conditions, the trial court will have the liberty to send the MP back to jail.
The state`s counsel also assured the court that trial in the case would be completed expeditiously. "We also direct the trial court to complete the trial within a period of four months from the date of the receipt of copy of this order without unnecessary adjournments," the bench said while refusing to cancel the bail. PTI