MUMBAI, MAY 21: Additional city civil and sessions Judge Shipra Basu adjourned till Thursday the hearing on the fresh anticipatory bail application by the prime accused in the Abhyudaya Bank scam and independent MLA Sitaram Ghandat and nine others.

Adhik Shirodkar, counsel for Ghandat, contended that the custody of the accused was not necessary as all the relevant documents and the statements of the co-accused were with the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Mumbai police which is investigating into the Rs 5 crore scam sessions court.

The high court had directed police to issue 72 working hours notice to the MLA prior to his arrest which was served on him. The court had also ordered the petitioners to attend the general branch of city police, whenever needed.

However, Shirodkar contended that so far nobody from the police had summoned any of them for interrogation.

Public prosecutor, Dattatraya Paranjpe submitted an application seeking the presence of all accused during the course of proceedings.

Presence of the accused was obligatory under the law when their anticipatory bail plea was being heard, he argued.

Meanwhile, additional chief metropolitan magistrate Shivajirao Dhumal remanded the bank's managing director Madhukar Chavan along with five other directors to police custody till May 26.

The others who have been remanded include three builders, Jitu Shah, Jayanti Lal and Udyan Parkar. However, another alleged accused Mahendra Doshi was released on a temporary bail till May 25. He was released on the grounds of his son's marriage. He will have to surrender before the authorities on Sunday.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.