Romesh aide granted bail

NEW DELHI, December 10: Vinod Luthra, an aide of alleged Dawood frontman Romesh Sharma, was today granted bail in the Mayfair Gardens case. According to businessman Laxman Jiwnani8217;s complaint, C-30, Mayfair Gardens, was grabbed by Sharma and forged ownership papers were prepared by him with Luthra as the attesting witness.

The same court rejected Sharma8217;s bail application in a case in which he has been charged with forcibly acquiring furniture and a watch. Rajiv Gupta had filed a complaint against Sharma on June 3, 1996. Sharma8217;s counsel said that the matter was settled between the two parties in the presence of the Investigating Officer of the case. Additional Sessions Judge ASJ S C Mittal observed: 8220;Considering the nature of the allegations levelled against Romesh Sharma and without expressing any opinion on the merits of the case, I do not think it to be a fit case for the grant of the bail.8221; ASJ Mittal accepted Luthra8217;s bail application as he was an 8220;attesting witness8221; to the forged documents and not a 8220;beneficiary8221;.