Corporate espionage: CBI fails to file chargesheet, accused gets bail

NEW DELHI: A public servant, arrested for his alleged role in the classified documents leak case, has been granted bail by a Delhi court on the ground that the CBI has failed to file a charge sheet against him within the stipulated 60 days period.

The court enlarged Daljeet Singh, an upper division clerk in the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP), on bail on a personal bond of Rs two lakh with one surety of the like amount.

"I am of the view of that the applicant (Singh) is entitled to statutory bail under section 167(2) CrPC since in the present case CBI has failed to file charge sheet within the prescribed period of 60 days," Special CBI Judge S C Rajan said.

During arguments on the bail plea, Singh's counsel told the court that his client was arrested on March 16 but the agency has failed to file the charge sheet within 60 days.

CBI opposed the bail plea contending that the case was at a crucial stage and investigation was still going on.

The agency had arrested six accused in the case alleging that classified government documents were allegedly procured by them and passed on to others.

The others accused in the case are Ashok Kumar Singh, working as under secretary in Department of Disinvestment in the Finance Ministry, Lala Ram Sharma, section officer in Department of Economic Affairs, Khemchand Gandhi, a Chartered Accountant, Paresh Chimanlal Budhdev, partner in Mumbai-based Chitale and Associates, and Ram Niwas, a private person.

Some of the co-accused have already been granted bail by the court.

CBI had earlier said that a large number of incriminating documents had been seized from the accused who were alleged to be procuring and passing on classified documents to others. It had alleged that a racket was being operated out of Delhi with deals being fixed mostly in Mumbai and Bengaluru.

The agency had conducted raids and arrested the accused after lodging a case of criminal conspiracy and theft under the IPC and misuse of official position under Prevention of Corruption Act against them.

It was alleged that the government servants were passing on documents relating to foreign investment policies in the ministries to Gandhi, who in turn provided them to corporate houses for a price.