Pradeep Shukla granted bail on medical grounds

A single judge bench of Justice Dinesh Gupta said: “…Without touching the merit of the case,the applicant can be enlarged on interim/ short term bail for a period of six months to enable him to get proper medical treatment.”

Apart from warning Shukla against influencing the witnesses or the proceedings of the case,the court also directed him to ensure that the attending physician or surgeon submits a report on the status of his health every two months. Shukla can also not leave the country without the court’s permission. The court has also directed him to submit a personal bond and two sureties of like amount,to the satisfaction of the CBI court,Ghaziabad.

Earlier,during the arguments,the CBI had opposed the second bail plea on the grounds of maintainability. The CBI had contended that either the petitioner should have approached the Supreme Court for bail or the special CBI court and not directly approach the High Court. However,the court rejected the contention.

The High Court had rejected Shukla’s first bail plea in connection with an NRHM case on May 31. In that bail plea,too,Shukla had taken the plea that he was old,infirm and sick and,therefore,needed bail for treatment.

It was submitted by Shukla,through his counsel Sudeep Harkauli,that he suffered transient ischemic attack (TIA) on June 10. This condition pertains to neurological dysfunction. He was admitted to Ram Manohar Lohia hospital for around a month. Subsequently,Shukla was advised complete bed rest at least a couple of times by the district government hospital doctors in Ghaziabad.

Shukla submitted before the court that he has filed a second bail application because of new developments that have emerged after May 31.

In pursuance of a non-bailable warrant issued against him,Shukla had surrendered before the CBI court on May 9. His bail plea was rejected by that court on May 10.

The case in which Shukla is undergoing imprisonment pertains to causing alleged loss to the exchequer to the tune of over Rs 6.02 crore — in alleged conspiracy with various officials of the health department,of which he was the Principal Secretary and some private persons; in the name of upgradation of various district hospitals. The CBI has already filed chargesheet in the case. He has also been named in three other FIRs registered by the CBI in connection with the NRHM scam.