Tomar's bail plea dismissed, judicial custody extended

New Delhi: A court here on Monday dismissed the bail application of Delhi's former law minister Jitender Singh Tomar in the fake degree case, saying that allegations against him were serious in nature as he is a legislator.

Dismissing the plea, Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Tarun Yogesh extended his judicial custody till July 6.

Tomar has sought bail on the ground that he has to attend Delhi's assembly sessions commencing from Tuesday.

The court, while refusing bail to Tomar, said it considered "the gravity of allegation against him as a public representative being an elected MLA, who is accused for using alleged false document for getting enrolled as an advocate".

Delhi Police opposed the bail plea, with Public Prosecutor Atul Shrivastava contending that he is an influential person and might tamper with the evidence in the case if he will released.

Tomar's counsel and senior advocate Ramesh Gupta however said that the case is based on documentary evidence, and hence there is no possibility of influencing witnesses as well as investigation.

He contended that Tomar has become victim of tussle between the central and state governments.

The magistrate observed that as a general citizen, he observed that how the legislators using fake documents can fool the common people and opined that Supreme Court was right in introducing none of the above (NOTA) option in the voting system.

Tomar was in police custody for the past 12 days after he was arrested on June 9. Police have slapped a case of cheating, forgery and conspiracy against him. Sent to a day's judicial custody on Sunday, he was presented before court after its expiry.