New Delhi: The Jammu and Kashmir high court has granted interim bail to Jammu-based businessman and newspaper owner Tarun Behl, who was arrested under the Official Secrets Act earlier this month.
Behl was granted interim bail on various conditions by Justice Rahul Bharti, including that he will not give any interview or publish any content related to the subject matter of the criminal case against him reported Bar and Bench.
The court also made the observation that a person who is only accused or suspected of a crime cannot be condemned from the very beginning of the investigation.
“Now, just for the sake of serving the satisfaction of the investigating authority that the petitioner shall continue to suffer jail but without any definite investigative purpose that too related to the petitioner is nothing but condemning an accused as a convict from the very inception of investigation. A good police investigation is supposed to chase the evidence gathering related to a case under investigation and not to chain an accused/suspect (sic),” stated the order dated July 22, reported Bar and Bench.
Behl was arrested on July 10, from his residence in the upscale Channi Himmat area of Jammu city for reportedly circulating the list of some 57 protected persons, including some journalists, politicians and retired police officers among others whose security cover was recently withdrawn by J&K administration.
The J&K police had also conducted raids on the properties of Behl following his arrest.
One of the conditions for the interim bail is that Behl should not leave Jammu and Kashmir without the permission of the investigating officer in the case.
His plea for regular bail will be next heard on August 9.
