Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Dec 16: The CBI special court here granted interim bail to chief project officer of Karnataka State Highways Development Project, S C Jayachandra, who has been suspended after huge stash of new currency notes of Rs 2,000 denomination were found from his residence, on Thursday December 15. But in a dramatic turn of events, Jayachandra opted to remain behind the bars by not meeting the bail conditions. There is suspicion that this might be a plan to escape from getting away from the clutches of CBI officials.

After prolonged arguments and counter arguments, judge of the court, Pradeep Balikai, granted ocnditional interim bail to Jayachandra. Jayachandra was asked to report to enforcement directorate officials every alternative day till December 22, two persons owning immovable property have to sign as sureties, evidences should not be destroyed, pressure should not be brought on witnesses, he should not leave the city without the permission of the court, and passport should be surrendered to the court, were the bail conditions imposed by the court.

Jayachandra fulfilled most of these conditions, but failed to hand over his passport to the court as prescribed. Therefore, the judge handed him over to judicial custody. A team of enforcement directorate officers took him into custody and led him to the central jail at Parappana Agrahara.

During the entire court proceedings, it is learnt, Jayachandra showed defiant posture, and was seen chewing gum all through.

There was high drama outside the court hall as CBI and Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) officials were found vying with each other to take Jayachandra into custody. CBI officers were waiting to take Jayachandra into custody the moment he secured jail and ca,e out of the court. A team of ACB officers was also waiting to take Jayachandra into custody relating to case of amassing wealth disproportionate to known sources of income. But both teams had to go back empty-handed as Jayachandra did not get released even after securing interim bail.