The Delhi High Court on Wednesday (24th June 2020) granted bail to AAP legislator Prakash Jarwal in connection with a case of the alleged suicide of a doctor in South Delhi, saying he was not needed for the further trial of the case and trial would take substantial time.
The MLA was given relief on furnishing a personal bond of Rs 25,000 and surety of like amount. The bail was granted by Justice Suresh Kumar Kait.
The Court also directed the MLA to not contact or influence the witnesses of the prosecution in any manner.
The judge said, “Keeping in view the discussion and the fact that the petitioner (Jarwal) is in judicial custody since May 9, however, petitioner is no more required for further investigation and trial will take substantial time, I am of the view that petitioner deserves bail, without commenting on the merits of the prosecution case.”
In a 16- page bail order, the High Court stated that the fact remains that the man was found dead on 18th April but immediately before that date, there were no allegations or complaints against Mr. Jarwal in the suicide note and diary recovered by the police.
The Court thus pointed out that it looks like, there was no proximity and link in the alleged commission of the offense. On the matter of extortion of money for Delhi elections held in February 2020, the Court said that from all tanker owners were not complained by family members of the deceased, and those were required to be tested during the trial.
The fact that the MLA’s brother, Anil Jarwal whose name was also mentioned in the suicide note was already given anticipatory bail on 2nd June on grounds that there were different handwritings and any specific date was not mentioned, was noted by the Court.
Dr. Rajendra Singh, 52, was allegedly found dead in Durga Vihar in South Delhi on 18th April. In his suicide note, the doctor wrote that Prakash Jarwal responsible for his death.
Prakash Jarwal, who represents Deoli assembly constituency and his aide, Kapil Nagar, were arrested on 9th May for alleged extortion and abetment to suicide of the 52-year-old doctor in April, based on a police complaint filed by the doctor’s son, Hemant.
The doctor supplied water tankers to the Delhi Jal Board since 2007. His family had accused Jarwal of extorting money from the doctor. The police also alleged that Jarwal and his associates were involved in extorting money from water tanker suppliers, including the doctor.
The doctor’s son had claimed that his father killed himself hours after Kapil Nagar had paid a visit.
The three-time MLA Jarwal, through his advocate Rebecca John and lawyer Ravi Drall, had alleged that the suicide note was fabricated and it was in two different handwritings with different pens.
His bail plea in the trial court was dismissed on the ground that the investigation was at a crucial stage. He challenged the order.
His close aide and co-accused Kapil Nagar was granted interim bail by a trial court on 22nd June.
The police said that during the investigation of the case they found that there was a connection between water-tanker owners and the accused person.
The investigation showed the extorted money was routed through the MLA's brother Anil Jarwal and invested in several properties and farm-houses in Delhi, Gurugram (Haryana) and Jaipur (Rajasthan).
According to the police many other complaints have been filed against the accused earlier by various authorities but no action was taken.
