Delhi HC stays in-camera hearing against retired RAW officer

New Delhi, April 28: The CBI today received a jolt with the Delhi High Court staying a city court's order for an in-camera hearing over the anticipatory bail plea of former RAW official V K Singh, accused of leaking "secret information" in his controversial book. On April 11, the lower court has ordered an in-camera proceeding of Singh's matter while allowing the CBI's plea citing the sensitivity of the case. Justice G S Sistani stayed the lower court order till July 17 on a petition filed by former Major General Singh through his counsel Anup Khullar challenging the lower court order for in-camera hearing. Khullar sumitted before the court that the Government had not banned the book and the order of the lower court was against the freedom of the press and the CBI wanted to gag the press and impose limitations on its right to information. The CBI chargesheeted Singh and Vivek Kumar Garg, the publisher of Manas Publication house, under Sections three and five of the Official Secret Act. The CBI in its 20-page chargesheet alleged Singh had wilfully communicated certain "secret information" in his book and also failed to take reasonable care. He directly transferred secret information to foreign agencies in a manner prejudicial to the safety of the state, the CBI alleged in its chargesheet. By disclosing these secret informations in the book, Singh has enabled the general public and foreigners to know the secrets of the state which "endangered" the security as well as sovereignty of India, the CBI alleged. Bureau Report
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