SC extends Maudany's bail by four weeks

The Supreme Court on Friday further extended the bail period of Kerala’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader Abdul Nazir Maudany for four weeks, rejecting the Karnataka government’s contention that he was trying to “intimidate” witnesses by organising a public meeting in Bangalore.

A bench of Justices J Chelameswar and A K Sikri allowed Maudany’s plea noting that he has so far not violated any of the conditions set by the court on the time of ordering his release for treatment of his ailments on July 11.

The 49-year-old Maudany faced charges in the 2008 Bangalore serial blasts case.

The court, while initially granting him bail for one month, had allowed the police to keep a vigil on his visitors. It had extended the period for two more weeks on August 11.

Senior advocate Raju Ramachandran, appearing for the Karnataka government, argued that Maudany’s followers had organised a meeting to threaten the witnesses. The court, however, was not convinced as it said organizing meeting was not something unexpected of a political figure’s supporters.

The counsel also submitted that the petitioner did not get himself admitted to a multi super-speciality hospital despite his claim, and was instead getting treatment at an Ayurveda centre. Advocate Prashant Bhushan, representing the petitioner, submitted that he was being treated at a holistic centre.