L-18 Batla House caretaker denied bail

NEW DELHI: A trial court on Wednesday denied bail to Abdur Rehman, caretaker of L-18 Batla House in Jamia Nagar, where two suspected terrorists were killed in a shootout. Rehman, a stenographer in the Uttar Pradesh Public Works Department, was arrested on the complaint of flat-owner Mohsin Nissar, who is also an engineer with the same department. Nissar alleged that the accused forged his signature in the lease deed, which was executed while giving the flat on rent to the two suspected terrorists.
Rejecting his bail application, Metropolitan Magistrate Sudesh Kumar said, ���Due to the seriousness of the alleged offences, their effect on society and the drastic consequences which have ensued, I am not inclined to grant bail to Rehman."
"The investigations are still at initial stage, and there is a possibility that the accused may abscond and adversely effect further investigation.Merely because the accused alleges that he has been falsely implicated in the matter would not make any difference," the magistrate added.
Earlier, arguing for Rehman, the defence counsel said that the keys of the said premises were given to the accused by the complainant himself and there was no deception or false representation. "The alleged forged rent agreement was not recovered from the accused...It was for the owner to get the verification of the tenants conducted," counsel M S Khans said.
Seeking release of the accused, Khan said, "In any case, the custodial interrogation of the accused was not required as he was sent to judicial custody and I undertake that he, if released on bail, would cooperate in the ongoing probe."
The public prosecutor argued that Rehman forged the signature of the landlord and leased out the flat to persons, who were found to be involved in terrorist activities. He was also accused of forging the signature of the owner of the house.