The Supreme Court on Friday granted bail to Kolkata businessman Ashok Todi and his brother Pradip Todi,accused of abetment to suicide of Rizwan Rahman,who married Ashok Todis daughter Priyanka against his wishes. While releasing them on bail,a Bench,comprising Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan and Justice P Sathasivam,ordered the Todis to furnish a surety of Rs 1 lakh each. The court directed them to surrender their passports with the city court concerned. Perusing the submissions made by senior advocate Ranjeet Kumar,who appeared for the Todis,the apex court restrained the accused not to move out of Kolkata without the prior permission of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). They have also been directed not to communicate or influence any of the witnesses connected with the case. Not agreeing with the argument of the CBIs counsel that the accused will influence the investigation if freed on bail,the court granted them bail. It,however,granted liberty to the CBI to move an application for cancellation of bail if and when the accused attempt influencing witnesses. Ashok Todi along with his two relatives,Pradip Todi and Anil Saraogi,Rizwanurs family friend Pappu and three cops former deputy commissioner Ajoy Kumar,ACP Sukanti Chakraborty and SI Krishnendu Das have been accused of abetment to suicide,criminal intimidation and conspiracy by the CBI in connection with Rizwanurs death. The three officers and Sarogi are out on bail,while the others are in judicial custody. Ashok Todi had surrendered before the CBI court on December 1. Rizwanurs bosdy was found on railway tracks on September 21,2007,almost a month after his marriage to Priyanka. Though the investigating agency was convinced that it was a suicide case,Rizwanurs family members were not convinced and thus,moved higher courts seeking a CBI inquiry.
