Begin typing your search above and press return to search.

Rakesh Paul moves SC for bail

By SANJOY RAY

GUWAHATI, March 3 - After being denied relief by the Gauhati High Court, prime accused in the cash-for-job scam in the Assam Public Service Commission (APSC) Rakesh Paul has filed a Special Leave Petition (SLP) before the Supreme Court of India seeking his release.

The matter, according to sources, would be listed in the apex court in the next couple of days.

Family members of the former chairman of the APSC, who is in detention since his arrest on November 4 last year, is reportedly trying to avail the service of senior Supreme Court counsel Kapil Sibal to defend his case.

However, it was still not clear whether Sibal had consented to appear for Paul or not.

The SLP move virtually appears to be last resort for Paul as his bail pleas were rejected twice by the Gauhati High Court both before and after the chargesheet into the scam was filed by the Dibrugarh Police.

Another accused and former member of the APSC Basanta Doley too had moved the Supreme Court recently seeking bail although his petition was withdrawn by his counsel under �mysterious circumstances�.

Meanwhile, the bail applications of Naba Kanta Patir and another co-accused came up for hearing before the single bench of Justice Rumi Kumar Phukan in the Gauhati High Court.

While special public prosecutor Bijon Kumar Mahajan appeared on behalf of the APSC, senior advocate HRA Choudhury represented both the accused.

The case has been fixed for further hearing on March 16 next.

Next Story