Ailing Ravi Belagere granted interim bail by sessions court

A sessions court in Bengaluru on Wednesday granted interim bail to Ravi Belagere, editor of the Kannada tabloid 'Hi Bangalore,' who was arrested on the charge of hiring a contract killer to
kill his colleague Sunil
Heggaravalli.

The court granted bail considering Belagere's poor health. He was taken to Victoria Hospital on Tuesday night from the Bangalore Central Prison hospital after there were variations in his blood pressure and sugar levels, which led to swelling in his legs. After being treated as an outpatient treatment at Victoria Hospital, the journalist was shifted back to the jail hospital where he did not eat properly. As he is hypertensive and and diabetetic, his health condition deteriorated on Wednesday morning and he was again taken to Victoria Hospital.

A magistrate court had denied him bail after the expiry of his police custody. Belagere's counsel moved bail application before the sessions court, citing his health condition.

The sessions court granted him bail with the conditions that he should not tamper with evidence or make attempts to influence witnesses. He should appear whenever the investigating officer calls him. The conditions also include that he should not leave Bengaluru or the country and remain in contact with the investigating officer.

Belagere was arrested by CCB police on December 8 and was in their custody for four days. He was then remanded in judicial custody till December 24.