Indian diplomat granted bail in Pakistan spy-case
Madhuri Gupta granted bail, claiming it she had spent 21 months in prison over a crime which carries a 3 year term.
NEW DELHI:
Suspended Indian diplomat Madhuri Gupta, arrested over 21 months ago allegedly for passing country's sensitive information to Pakistani intelligence service, the ISI, was on Tuesday granted bail by a Delhi court.
Gupta had given up sensitive information while she was posted as a Second Secretary (Press and Information) at the Indian High Commission in Islamabad.
(Read: Indian diplomat formally charged with spying)
While enlarging on the terms of her bail, Additional Sessions Judge Pawan Kumar Jain, restrained Gupta from leaving Delhi without prior permission from the court. The court also warned her against trying to contact any prosecution witness in the case.
The judge, who had on January 7, charged her with offences entailing a three year jail term upon being convicted, released her on bail on a personal bond of Rs 25,000 and surety of same amount. The court, though, granted her bail on the plea that she had already spent over 21 months in jail, while the offences for which she had been charged with carried a maximum jail term of three years on being found guilty.
She also submitted that the Criminal Procedure Code provides for leniency in grant of bail to women.
Gupta, 53, was arrested on April 22, 2010 by Special Cell of Delhi Police when she was called from Islamabad for a meeting.
Suspended Indian diplomat Madhuri Gupta, arrested over 21 months ago allegedly for passing country's sensitive information to Pakistani intelligence service, the ISI, was on Tuesday granted bail by a Delhi court.
Gupta had given up sensitive information while she was posted as a Second Secretary (Press and Information) at the Indian High Commission in Islamabad.
(Read: Indian diplomat formally charged with spying)
While enlarging on the terms of her bail, Additional Sessions Judge Pawan Kumar Jain, restrained Gupta from leaving Delhi without prior permission from the court. The court also warned her against trying to contact any prosecution witness in the case.
The judge, who had on January 7, charged her with offences entailing a three year jail term upon being convicted, released her on bail on a personal bond of Rs 25,000 and surety of same amount. The court, though, granted her bail on the plea that she had already spent over 21 months in jail, while the offences for which she had been charged with carried a maximum jail term of three years on being found guilty.
She also submitted that the Criminal Procedure Code provides for leniency in grant of bail to women.
Gupta, 53, was arrested on April 22, 2010 by Special Cell of Delhi Police when she was called from Islamabad for a meeting.