Court rejects senior Rajasthan police officer's bail plea

Jaipur, April 27 (IANS) Rajasthan High Court Friday rejected the bail application of suspended Indian Police Service (IPS) officer A. Ponnuchami who was arrested for his alleged involvement in killing of criminal Dara Singh in a staged shoot-out, a lawyer said.

"Ponnuchami had been arrested May 16 last year after he turned up before the CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) for questioning. We had moved a bail application in the court, however, it was rejected," said IPS officer's lawyer Ajay Kumar Jain.

Ponnuchami is currently lodged in the Jaipur Central Jail.

The alleged staged shootout that led to the death of purported liquor smuggler Dara Singh by police's special operations group (SOG) took place on the outskirts of Jaipur Oct 23, 2006.

The CBI has arrested Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Rajasthan legislator Rajendra Singh Rathore and 11 policemen so far including suspended additional director general of police A. K. Jain and inspector general. A. Ponnuchami.

As per the CBI charge sheet, SOG officers gunned officers gunned down Dara Singh in the fake gunfight on instructions from Rathore who was a minister in the Vashundhara Raje government at that time.