A special CBI court on Monday denied bail to Kalmadi citing the HC’s order in the 2G case. Lalit had represented CBI in the 2G case before the HC and had opposed Chandra’s bail. On the other hand, he appeared as Kalmadi’s counsel before special CBI judge Talwant Singh and sought bail for the sacked OC chief.
Allowing Lalit’s arguments, Justice Ajit Bharihoke had denied bail to Chandra on May 23, 2011, saying “there is a reasonable likelihood of the petitioners tampering with witnesses, particularly when employed in the companies controlled by them”.
Lalit’s arguments as Kalmadi’s counsel favouring his bail plea fell flat as the same HC order was cited by the trial court to deny bail to Kalmadi. “On the basis of the aforesaid discussion and in view of the applicant being an influential person who was exercising full control over the organizing committee as its chairman and most of the witnesses are his employees of the OC… gravity of offence being of very serious nature for causing loss to government of India and unlawful gain to a private vendor to the tune of more than Rs 95 crore and the nature and character of evidence collected by CBI, I am of view that the accused is not entitled to bail at this stage,” judge Talwant Singh said.
The court also dismissed the bail application of Kalmadi’s aide and co-accused A S V Prasad. The judge also remanded CWG organising panel’s former treasurer M Jayachandran in CBI custody for three days for interrogation over his role in the scam.
CBI had filed its first chargesheet against Kalmadi and 10 others on May 20, describing him as main accused in the corruption case, involving the award of the TSR contract to the Swiss firm.