SHIMLA: Former Himachal Pradesh Governor Sheila Kaul, who is facing a CBI inquiry in connection with an “interim” anticipatory bail by the state High Court here last week.
Fearing her instant arrest by the CBI, former Governor had moved the court within minutes of her relinquishing the office. Her bail application was presented by her counsel M.S. Chandel and Rakesh Jaswal.
Earlier, she was given a ceremonial send off at the Raj Bhawan, which was followed by a high-profile drama ‘as she Left for an undisclosed destinations. The officials were tightlipped about her whereabouts, and an impression was given about her plan to Stay at a tourist resort in Chail and then return to Raj Bhawan as a “state guest.” A family member of the former Governor, who arrived here last week, is understood to have advised her to stay away from Delhi for some days, in view of the CBI plans about her “arrest. ‘The move to approach the High Court was also kept secret, like her plans to keep herself away from media. Justice R.L. Khurana, who took up the bail application on a special re~ quest of her counsel, directed the CBI motto arrest her till further orders. The Central government standing Counsel P.A. Sharma, who accepted notices, did not oppose grant of interim bail ‘and sought time to call for the records.
Passing the orders on the bail application, the court imposed certain conditions on Sheila Kaul to join the investigations as and when called upon by a written “hukumnana.” She was also directed not to leave the country without expressed permission of the court and not to hamper the investigations in any manner, The CBI too was directed not to summon her to the police station. She can be interrogated only at her residence “after sunrise and before sunset” and “if she so desires, in presence of her counsel,” the judge ordered.
The former Governor had explained in her application that she was an old lady, suffering from heart ailments, with history of dizziness. blackouts and missing heart beats. She also pleaded innocence in the housing scam and alleged that she had been implicated due to “ulterior considerations.”
Article extracted from this publication >> May 1, 1996
