Court dismisses plea to cancel V K Singh's bail

A Delhi court on Wednesday dismissed the plea of Lt Gen (Retd) Tejinder Singh seeking cancellation of bail granted to former Army Chief Gen V K Singh and four top serving Army officials against whom he had filed a criminal defamation case.

Metropolitan Magistrate (MM) Jay Thareja also imposed a "notional cost" of Rs 500 on Tejinder Singh saying his plea for cancellation of bail lacks merits.

"Your application is dismissed with a notional cost of Rs 500 to be submitted with the Delhi Legal Services Authority," Thareja said adding "your application completely lacks merits as far as I am concerned."

Tejinder had filed a criminal defamation case against V K Singh, Vice Chief of Army Staff S K Singh, Lt Gen B S Thakur (Director General of Military Intelligence), Major General S L Narshiman (Additional Director General of Public Information) and Col Hitten Sawhney.

He had alleged he was defamed by the Army through its press release issued on March 5 which accused him of offering a bribe of Rs 14 crore to the then Army Chief to clear a deal of 600 trucks, a charge refuted by him.

Tejinder had sought cancellation of bail saying the accused are likely to tamper with the evidence.

The court, which listed the matter for further hearing on October 8, also allowed the plea by the four serving Army officials seeking permanent exemption from personal appearance with the condition that they will have to appear before it on the day of framing of charges.

During the arguments earlier, advocate Anil Aggarwal, who appeared for Tejinder, had opposed the plea moved by the four serving Army officials saying they were giving "vague" details for seeking permanent exemption in the case.