A Delhi Court on Friday dismissed the application filed by AAP legislator Prakash Jarwal seeking interim bail to perform the last rites of his father-in-law who was suspected to have died of COVID-19.
Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Sanjeev Aggarwal said that the body of his in-law has already been handed over to his kin for cremation earlier on Friday, adding that Jarwal cannot be released on bail as chances of him influencing witnesses "cannot be ruled out".
"The fact that the investigations are still in progress, in these circumstances if the accused is released on interim bail, considering the dominant position of the accused, chances of the accused influencing the witnesses cannot be ruled out," ASJ Aggarwal noted, while dismissing the plea.
The police opposed Jarwal's bail application, asserting that his brother-in-law can perform all the rites and rituals related to the death of his father-in-law. They said that allegations against him were serious in nature.
"If granted the relief, the accused may likely hamper the probe," the prosecution said.
Jarwal is currently lodged in Tihar jail in connection with a case of alleged suicide of a doctor in South Delhi. A 52-year-old doctor had allegedly committed suicide in Durga Vihar on April 18. In his suicide note, he had held Jarwal responsible for his taking the extreme step.
In his bail application, the legislator stated that his father-in-law had breathing problems from the past two days and expired in LNJP hospital on Wednesday, while he was under treatment.
"As per Hindu rites, the presence of the accused is must at time of cremation of his father-in-law," he said, requesting the court to grant him bail.
Jarwal claimed that there is an apprehension that his wife and eleven-month-old child may also have contracted coronavirus.
Jarwal, who represents the Deoli assembly constituency, was arrested on May 9, after a case of extortion and abetment to suicide was filed against him and others based on a police complaint by the doctor's son.
( With inputs from IANS )