The plea of 2008 Bangalore blasts case accused Abdul Nasser Maudani has been rejected by the Supreme Court. The plea challenges the demand by the Karnataka government that he should deposit over Rs 56 lakhs to provide security cover to him during his stay in Kerala for a period of nearly three months.
A Bench comprising of Justice Ajay Rastogi and Justice Bela Trivedi found no reason to interfere with the decision that was taken by the State Police regarding the number of personnel to be deployed for Maudani’s security cover.
The Court had relaxed the bail condition for Maudani and said he should remain in Bengaluru till the end of the trial.
The Court on April 20 has permitted Maudani to stay in Kerala till July 8 to visit his ailing father and to take care of his own medical treatment, with the condition that the expenses for the security cover would be borne by him.
The Karnataka government asked for Rs 20.23 lakh per month for 20 police personnel to accompany him.
The amount to be given was decided by a police team led by Bengaluru City Police Commissioner Yathish Chandra visited Kerala and submitted a report considering security threats and other aspects.
Maudani in his plea had expressed his inability yo meet this amount
Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, who represented petitioner, argued that when he was allowed to visit Kerala earlier, the security expenses claimed was just Rs 1.18 lakh and that Rs 20 lakh per month is a significant sum for him.
The Bench state government counsel as to why was the amount increased as he hasn’t created any problem.
Advocate Nikhil Goel, the Additional Advocate General of Karnataka, submitted that as per the itinerary submitted by Maudani, his visit is not confined to his father’s residence; instead he has plans to visit multiple places in Kerala.
He highlighted that Maudani was facing allegations of carrying out anti-India activities “This is why we need to carry out a threat assessment”, he added.”Just asking. How many security people does he have in Bangalore for me? Only one”, Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal pointed out.”When you go outside the State, it is different”, the Bench said.
Though Sibal requested that the Kerala Police be asked to take care of the security, the bench refused by saying that the Bengaluru police will take care of all the security aspects.”I’m the Chairman of a political party. I want to go to my father’s house, to the hospital and to my own house. That’s all. Only three places”, Sibal submitted when the other side claimed that Maudani wanted to visit 10 places.
Even after the order was passed, Sibal continued :”Please appreciate. He’s been on bail for 8 years. Nothing has happened. Why would I be of risk to anybody? He is on a wheel chair! Milords, 55 lakhs, how can anybody afford? Matter is on trial; I am not convicted. Might as well say that we have no liberty, that’s what it means!”
The PDP leader, along with 31 others, was booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 for his alleged involvement in a series of bomb blasts on July 25, 2008, in Bengaluru that left one person dead and 20 injured.