Supreme Court seeks Karnataka's response on Abdul Nasser Madani's bail plea

The Supreme Court today sought Karnataka government's response on the bail plea of PDP leader Abdul Nasser Madani, an accused in 2008 Bangalore serial blasts case, with the presiding judge wondering how a wheel chair-bound person could pose a threat if released on bail.

A bench of Justice Markandeya Katju and Justice Gyan Sudha Misra asked the state to respond within a week and posted the matter for April 29.

Two persons were killed and 20 injured when serial blasts rocked Bangalore city in nine locations in 2008.

During the brief hearing, Justice Katju wondered how a person whose leg is amputated and lives with the help of wheel chair could pose a threat if granted bail.

However, Justice Misra pointed out that the accused was facing the serious charge of being involved in the blasts which claimed lives.

Senior counsel Shanti Bhushan, appearing for Madani, claimed that the accused was innocent and had been falsely implicated.

The bench then sought the state government's response on the bail plea.

On February 11, the Karnataka high court had rejected Madani's plea on the ground that if bail was granted to him it would put the security of the state and the nation in jeopardy.

But the high court directed jail authorities to take steps to ensure that the health condition of Madani, who is disabled and suffering from different ailments, does not deteriorate and he is given necessary medical help.

The court said available material and statements of witnesses indicated that Madani was in constant touch with the other accused before and after the blasts and also harboured some of them by giving them shelter in his orphanage in Kerala.

On the contention of senior defence counsel BV Acharya that there was "no direct evidence" of Madani''s involvement in the criminal conspiracy, the high court had said, "There is seldom ever that direct evidence is there in such cases. Conspiracy by very nature is hatched in complete secrecy other wise the whole purpose will be frustrated."

Madani, arrested in Kerala on August 17 last year, is lodged in Central Jail, Bangalore. He was one of the main accused in the 1998 Coimbatore serial blasts that killed 58 people but was acquitted.