Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Dec 22: The court here has granted bail to journalist, Ravi Belagere, in the case pertaining to the alleged hiring of contract killer to eliminate a colleague.

Belagere, who had been arrested by the personnel of city crime branch, had been jailed. The court had granted him interim bail. Later, he was shifted to a private hospital for advanced treatment. The court has granted him bail on the condition that two sureties should be provided and bond of two lac rupees has to be executed.

Advocates for Belagere had filed bail petition in 65th sessions and civil court. As the period of the interim bail was to end on Thursday, the advocates had sought regular bail. The court upheld the petition and granted bail, although city crime branch police raised objections.

In the meanwhile, the court in Sagar, which had served body warrant against Ravi Belagere in another case of defamation, withdrew the warrant. The warrant had been issued as Belagere had failed to appear in court. Judge of the court, Felix Alphonso Antony, had issued body warrant on December 13.

In view of health condition of Belagere and the fact that a court in Bengaluru had sanctioned interim bail to him, advocate for Belagere had requested the Sagar court to withdraw the body of warrant.