BALCO: Chinese engineers’ bail pleas rejected

The engineers — Shandong Electric Power Construction Corp (SEPCO) general manager Wu Chunanan (35),Liu Gaoxuan (29) and Wang Weiging (25) — had moved the court for bail after they were arrested on January 11 and Korba Judicial Magistrate Class One remanded them to judicial custody. The Chinese engineers have been charged under sections 304,34,323 and 326 of the IPC dealing with culpable homicide not amounting to murder,common intention and causing grievous hurt.

Sessions Judge M D Kathulkar,who heard the prosecution’s arguments as well as of those of defence till Monday evening,passed an order later pointing out that the High Court had earlier rejected the bail applications of other accused in the case.

Defence counsel Brijesh Kumar Shukla argued that the Chinese engineers could not be held responsible for the accident in any manner as SEPCO had entered into an agreement with Delhi-based M/s Gannon Dunkerley & Company Limited (GDCL) for construction of the twin chimneys. He argued that GDCL,as per the agreement,was solely responsible for taking care of the work,workers and any liability arising out of it.

The prosecution opposed the bail pleas on several grounds,including that the accused could leave the country if they were released.