A Delhi court has dismissed the bail plea of an Army officer, arrested in a corruption case in December last year, noting that he held a crucial post for performing tasks closely linked to the country's security, integrity and sovereignty.
Special Judge Gagandeep Singh was hearing the bail plea of Lt Col. Deepak Kumar Sharma, who was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for allegedly taking a bribe of ₹3 lakh from a Dubai-based company.
In an order dated January 23, the court took note of the prosecution's allegations that Sharma “was occupying a crucial post as the deputy planning officer (international cooperation and exports) in the Department of Defence Production, Ministry of Defence, and thus, was performing crucial tasks assigned to him”.
Underlining that the tasks assigned to Sharma “were closely linked to the security, integrity and sovereignty of the nation”, the court said the allegations against him were “quite serious”.
“In the said backdrop, the possibility of the accused or applicant influencing the investigation or the witnesses, including his seniors or colleagues, also cannot be ruled out at this stage, when the investigation of the case is at a nascent stage,” the court said, dismissing his bail plea.
