Chandigarh – 17 Feb – In the infamous Burail jailbreak case, the local court today granted bail to Jagtar Singh Tara, who was extradited to India by Thailand. However, Tara unable to furnish bond of Rs one lakh as directed by the Duty Magistrate Harpreet Kaur, will remain in jail.
According to TOI news, Though, the public prosecutor made his best efforts to convince the court that Tara is necessary to interrogate for establishing the sequence of events, in which he along with others escaped, and for ascertaining the assistance of other people in his escape etc, defense counsel, advocate Amar Singh Chahal, claimed that most of the charges against Tara have been dropped and prosecution can not claim police custody under the current charge leveled under Section 224 of IPC.
The bail was granted under Section 224 (escapes from lawful detention) of IPC, which is a bailable offence.
Chahal said, “In the present case, charges of attempt to wage war (Section 121 of the IPC), conspiracy to commit offences punishable under Section 121 A of the IPC and concealing with intent to facilitate design to wage war (Section 123 of the IPC) were dropped against all accused, including Tara.”
Tara, who was facing trail in the assassination of Ex-CM of Punjab, Beant Singh, had been escaped along with three others after digging about 109 feet long tunnel inside the jail dates back in January, 2004. Two others escapee including Jagtar Singh Hawara, Paramjeet Singh Bheroa were rearrested within two years, and one Dev Singh, aka Devi is still at large. Devi is believed to be hiding in Pakistan. Among other accused in the case were jail superintendent DS Rana, dismissed deputy jail superintendents DS Sandhu and Ved Mittar Gill, dismissed assistant jail superintendent PS Rana, two former jail wardens and two former CRPF constables on duty on the day of the incident.