Bhutanese dissident released on bail

NEW DELHI, June 12: The Delhi High Court today released Bhutanese dissident leader Rongthong Dorji on bail upholding an earlier order of Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Prem Kumar of the Tis Hazari courts.

A division bench comprising Justices Arun Kumar and Mukul Mudgal today permitted the authorities to keep him under surveillance to dispel fears that he may go underground or flee the country and go to Nepal. The vacation bench rejected the Central government’s contention seeking the cancellation of CMM Prem Kumar’s order granting bail to Dorji. The rebel leader has been in judicial custody for over a year pending extradition proceedings against him.

Appearing on behalf of Dorji, senior counsel Gopal Subramaniam submitted that he was ready to impose two more conditions on himself (Dorji) to dispel fears of the Central government that Dorji might flee to Nepal once released on bail. Subramaniam said Dorji would report to the local police station twice a week instead of once a week as stipulated by the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) in his bail order.