The Supreme Court today granted bail to Syed Mohammad Ahmed Kazmi,who has been behind bars since March 6 in the Israeli diplomat car attack case. "We direct that the appellant (Kazmi) be released on bail to the satisfaction of the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate,upon such conditions as may be deemed fit and proper,including surrender of passport,reporting to the local police station,and not leaving the city limits where he would be residing without the leave of the Court,so as to ensure his presence at the time of the trial," a bench headed by Chief Justice Altamas Kabir said. The bench passed the order on a plea filed by Kazmi challenging the Delhi High Court's order which had dismissed his plea for bail. "We allow the appeal,set aside the order dated July 20,2012,passed by the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate extending the time of investigation and custody of the accused for 90 days,with retrospective effect from June 2,2012,and the orders of the high court," the bench said. Kazmi,who claims to have been writing for an Iranian publication,was picked up after a probe showed that he had been in touch with the suspect who is believed to have stuck the magnetic bomb on Israeli diplomat Tal Yehoshua's car on February 13,according to the police. Kazmi is alleged to have helped the suspect in conducting the recce of the Israeli Embassy to keep a tab on arrival and departure of diplomats. Israeli diplomat Tal Yehoshua Koren,42,wife of Israeli Defence Attache Colonel Yossi Refaelov and an Indian driver of the embassy vehicle,were among four persons injured in the blast caused by the magnetic bomb. While allowing Kazmi's plea,the bench said,"We are unable to appreciate the procedure adopted by the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate,which has been endorsed by the High Court and we are of the view that Kazmi acquired the right for grant of statutory bail on July 17,2012,when his custody was held to be illegal by the Additional Sessions Judge," the bench said.
