Ahmedabad-Gandhinagar Metro scam: court refuses bail to former IAS officer Gupta

AHMEDABAD: The special court for Anti- Corruption Bureau cases here today turned down the bail plea of former IAS officer Sanjay Gupta who was arrested in the Rs 113-crore scam related to Ahmedabad-Gandhinagar Metro project.

Judge N G Dave rejected the bail application. Gupta had contended that police had failed to file the charge sheet against him within the stipulated 60 days, so he should get bail.

Gupta's lawyers stated that he had been first produced before the court on May 15 and the 60-day period was over.

However, prosecutor Sudhir Brahmbhatt said the 60-day rule is applicable only where the punishment is less than seven years' imprisonment.

Under sections 409 (criminal breach of trust by a public servant) and 467 (forgery) of IPC, invoked against Gupta, the maximum punishment is 10 years and the charge sheet in such a case can be filed within 90 days, he said.

The court had twice rejected Gupta's bail applications earlier. The state CID arrested Gupta, former chairman of Ahemdabad-Gandhinagar Metro project, on May 14, alleging that financial irregularities to the tune of Rs 113 crore took place during his tenure in 2012.

Gupta and seven others are accused of presenting forged bills and bogus documents related to ground-filling work carried out near Bhat village for Metro project in 2012.

He also allegedly floated several bogus firms which were paid Rs 11.12 crore. It has also been alleged that he accepted Rs 60 crore as commission from suppliers.