The Tripura High Court on Friday rejected bail pleas of a former chief secretary and ex-chief engineer in the Rs 638 crore PWD scam.
A bench of Justice Arindam Lodh after rejected the anticipatory bail plea of former chief secretary Yash Pal Singh and bail petition of ex-chief engineer of PWD Sunil Bhowmik.
The Tripura Police’s vigilance wing on October 13 filed an FIR against former PWD minister Badal Choudhury, Singh, who was Principal Secretary (PWD) in 2008-09 and ex-PWD chief engineer Bhowmik in connection with the alleged scam.
Bhowmik was arrested on October 14.
The police said they have taken steps to arrest Singh, who is a resident of New Delhi.
On the other hand, a special district court sent veteran CPI-M leader and former minister Choudhury to 13-day judicial custody in the case.
After four-day police custody, the police produced Choudhury in special court, which sent the veteran Left leader to 13-day judicial custody.
“The court has directed the investigating officer to arrange full health and security protection for the former minister. The officer can interrogate Choudhury in the Central Jail as and when required,” defence lawyer Arindam Bhattacharjee told reporters.
An eight-time MLA and former Lok Sabha member, Choudhury has been in hospital since he was arrested by the crime branch on October 21 in connection with the PWD scam.