'How Long You'll Keep Him Inside?' : Supreme Court Grants Bail To Anand Rai, Vyapam Scam Whistleblower, Arrested By MP Police

The Supreme Court on Friday granted bail to Dr.Anand Rai, the whistleblower in the Vyapam scam, who was arrested in a case over alleged violence during a dharna.

Rai was arrested on November 15, 2022. The trial judge refused him bail on November 17, 2022. The Madhya Pradesh High Court also dismissed his bail application on December 12, 2022, following which he approached the Supreme Court.

A bench comprising Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justice PS Narasimha granted bail to Rai "having regard to the period of custody and the facts and circumstances of the case".

"This man is an ophthalmologist. He says he is also the whistleblower in Vyapam scam. The allegation is that he was part of a mob which attacked the collector. How long will you keep him inside?", CJI Chandrachud asked the State of MP.

"To remove the impression, there are 4-5 FIRs against him prior to this so called whistle blew", Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta, appearing for the State of Madhya Pradesh, replied.

Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Rai, submitted that he was kept in solitary confinement during the period of custody.  This allegation was refuted by the SG.

Pointing out that Rai was a government employee, SG requested the bench to impose a bail condition "not to participate in such dharnas". However, the bench turned down the request.

Last year, the Supreme Court had refused to quash another FIR registered against Rai under SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act over an alleged derogatory Facebook post made by him against Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister's Deputy Secretary Laxman Markam.

Case Title : Anand Rai vs State of Madhya Pradesh SLP(Crl) No.12933/2022

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