CBI opposes bail for ’84 riots convict

New Delhi, The Delhi High Court today extended the bail granted on medical grounds to an 89-year-old convict serving a life term in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case even as the CBI opposed it. A bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice Anu Malhotra granted relief to retired naval officer Captain Bhagmal till July 13 as his plea seeking extension of interim suspension of his sentence is pending and issued notice to the CBI on it. The agency in its report said Bhagmal’s medical reports showed that he does not suffer from any chronic disease and the ailments were common at his age. “The convict does not deserve any leniency and his application for extension of suspension of sentence may kindly be summarily dismissed with cost in the interest of justice,” the agency said. The convict is already on interim bail since March 24 on medical grounds. Bhagmal, through his counsel, had stated that he was suffering from enlarged prostrate for which he has to undergo surgery which would require him to remain hospitalised. The bench had earlier directed Bhagmal to give the address where he would be available and mobile number on which he can be contacted by the CBI during the interim suspension of his sentence. It had asked the convict not to get in touch with any witnesses or legal heirs of the deceased. “In case, there is a violation, it will be open to the CBI to move an application for recall of this order,” it had said, adding that Bhagmal shall not leave the National Capital Territory of Delhi without its permission. Bhagmal, a former Congress councillor Balwan Khokhar, Girdhari Lal and two others were held guilty in a case relating to the murder of five members of a family in Raj Nagar area of Delhi Cantonment on November 1, 1984, after the assassination of PM Indira Gandhi.