India

Saradha scam: SC refuses to hear bail plea of Manoranjana

PTI

The Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to entertain the bail plea of Manoranjana Sinh, an accused in the multi-crore Saradha chitfund scam and suggested that she approach the Calcutta High Court for the relief.

A vacation Bench of Justices PC Pant and DY Chandrachud said that High Court is already seized of the matter and the relief could be sought by the accused, who is the wife of former union minister Matang Sinh, there also. Senior advocate Rekha Palli, appearing for the accused, said she had been in custody for more than seven-and-half months during which she had also undergone two surgeries.

“She had been named in fifth supplementary charge sheet in the case and due to her medical conditions, bail should be granted to her,” the counsel said.

To this, the Bench said that court had already directed the authorities to provide all necessary medical facilities to her.

The counsel appearing for the CBI opposed the bail plea and said that the accused should have first approached the Calcutta High Court with her plea before approaching the apex court.

The Bench, while disposing of the plea, granted liberty to Sinh to approach the High Court. The CBI had last year arrested Sinh in connection with the Saradha scam.