Salahuddin denied bail

A court in Shillong yesterday rejected the bail plea of BNP leader Salahuddin Ahmed, who has been arrested for entering India without valid travel documents, in view of the red corner notice issued against him.

The court of Judicial Magistrate First Class LK Kharshiing rejected the bail application of Ahmed who wanted the relief to get better treatment in Singapore for his health problems.

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The bail application was rejected by the court on two grounds -- a red corner notice received by the government of India from authorities in Bangladesh and a report from the Meghalaya police that he is likely to make good his escape once the bail is granted.

The Investigation Officer P Lamare told the court that it would take another 3-4 days to complete the interrogation of Salahuddin Ahmed.

Ahmed's counsel SP Mahanta told the court that his client's primary physicians were in Singapore and hence a bail application had been made for availing treatment there.

Ahmed's wife Hasina Ahmed, besides other family members and friends, was present in the courtroom.

Ahmed was picked up by Meghalaya police from Golf Link area of the city on May 11 when he was found loitering there. He was arrested on May 12 for travelling without valid documents but was admitted to Shillong Civil Hospital and later shifted to North Eastern Indira Gandhi Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (Neigrihms) for treatment.

The chief judicial magistrate KML Nongbri had remanded him to 14 days judicial custody on May 27 when he was produced before it, a day after his discharge from Neigrihms.