Court grants conditional bail to Telangana BJP chief Bandi Sanjay after 8-hour hearing

WARANGAL: After a marathon eight-hour hearing, BJP's state president, Bandi Sanjay, was granted conditional bail by a local court in Hanumakonda on Thursday night. Arguments in the case began at 2.30 pm after Telangana high court dismissed twin petitions by BJP, questioning Sanjay's detention and remand.
Arguing before a packed court of first-class principal judicial magistrate, R Anitha, Sanjay's advocate C Vidya Sagar Reddy countered the demand for police custody of the MP and urged the court to grant him bail. Sanjay is accused no. 1 in the SSC Hindi paper leak case.
The defence counsel argued Sanjay was illegally arrested as maximum punishment for charges slapped on him are up to seven years and he did not leak or circulate the question paper. "Sanjay received a message at 11.24am and did not even open it. The exam started at 9.30 am. Where is the question of a paper leak," the counsel argued.
The counsel also cited the Karimnagar MP's ill health, his scheduled participation at the 11th day ceremony of a deceased family member and the Saturday rally of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Parade Grounds, which he needs to attend as state party president.
However, public prosecutor V Revathi argued against bail, alleging that the MP had conspired with the other accused in the case to tarnish the image of the Telangana government and trigger panic among students.
She also argued that Sanjay’s cell phone has vital evidence in the case and it’s yet to be recovered. She contended that evidence would be tampered with if the MP was released on bail. “We have to investigate the case thoroughly and collate proof of the SSC public examination paper leak. Bandi Sanjay is playing with the future of students and should be remanded in police custody,” thprosecutor said. Both advocates continued their arguments till 9pm, when judicial magistrate granted conditional bail to Sanjay.
He was asked to furnish two sureties and a personal bond for `20,000. The MP was also asked to not leave the country, threaten witnesses and co-operate with investigators. Once the bail orders reach Karimnagar prison, Sanjay will be freed. The Hindi question paper was allegedly leaked from a SSC exam centre at Zilla Parishad High School for Boys in Kamalapur in Hanumakonda on April 4. The police petition seeking custody of four accused, including Sanjay, has been posted for Monday