HC gives interim bail to accused in firing case

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 10

Less than three months after retired Navy officer Narinder Verma was shot at in Jal Vayu Apartments in Sunny Enclave, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has granted interim bail to accused Rajesh Malik.

The Bench, among other things, took note of the fact that details of treatment given to the petitioner-accused were not furnished despite specific orders.

Malik, through senior counsel Bipan Ghai and advocate Paras Talwar, had alleged that he was waylaid by the complainant and his companions. As a result, he sustained serious injuries, including fractures of ribs and left shoulder. His licensed revolver was also snatched. In the process, “The fired shot went off hitting the complainant and the petitioner acted in his right of self-defence,” Ghai told the Bench.

Ghai said the complainant-party had a motive to implicate the petitioner in the present case owing to election rivalry in society. The petitioner had already deposed against the complainant before an inquiry officer.

Taking up the matter, Justice Raj Mohan Singh asserted perusal of a status report showed that it was conspicuously silent about injuries sustained by the petitioner. In view of order dated August 10, the respondent State was required to place on record the details of treatment given to the petitioner from June 27 onwards till his discharge from the hospital. But, the same had not been done.

“This is the state of affairs even after granting last opportunity to the respondent State vide order dated August 27,” Justice Raj Mohan Singh added. “At this stage, without forming any opinion on the merits of the case and in view of the medical status of petitioner, it would be appropriate to release him on interim bail till the next date of hearing,” the Bench concluded.