New Delhi, February 10 A Delhi court granted interim bail to a contractor on Tuesday, despite an arrest warrant being issued against him in connection with the death of a 25-year-old motorcyclist who died after falling into a 15-foot-deep pit dug by the Delhi Jal Board in West Delhi's Janakpuri recently.
Additional Sessions Judge Harleen Singh heard an interim bail application filed by the accused contractor, Himanshu Gupta, against whom an arrest warrant was issued on Monday, and said, "No coercive measures should be taken against the applicant (Gupta) until the next hearing date."
In the order, the court said, "The applicant should join the investigation on the specified date and time, as agreed upon with his counsel. Meanwhile, no coercive measures should be taken against the applicant until the next hearing date."
The counsel for Gupta submitted to the court that his client had received a notice to join the investigation on February 9, but was unable to do so due to illness.
He assured the court that the accused was willing to cooperate with the investigation and would appear before the investigating officer as and when required.
The defense stated that Gupta would join the investigation on February 11 at 10 am.
The prosecution did not object to the request that no coercive action be taken against the accused until the next hearing date.
Taking note of the submissions, the court directed the accused to join the investigation at the specified date and time, and posted the matter for further proceedings on February 18.
Kamal Dhyani, an employee with a private bank in Rohini, was returning home on the night of February 5-6 when he fell into the pit dug for a sewer project with his bike, suffering fatal injuries.
So far, two arrests have been made in connection with the incident, while three Delhi Jal Board (DJB) officials have been suspended.
The Delhi Police has arrested a sub-contractor, Rajesh Prajapati, and a labourer, Yogesh, who have been sent to judicial custody.
The sub-contractor was arrested on Saturday for allegedly withholding information that a motorcyclist had fallen into the pit, delaying the police and emergency response.
The 23-year-old labourer, Yogesh, was arrested on Sunday for allegedly not informing the police or emergency authorities about the incident, and for misleading the victim's family when they came inquiring about him.