PANCHKULA: The CBI court in Panchkula has rejected the anticipatory bail application of All India Jat Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti (AIJASS) general secretary Ashok Kumar Balhara. This comes three days after the court had issued nonbailable warrants against Balhara, who is a close AIJASS president Yashpal Malik, and five others, in a case pertaining to violence during Jat reservation agitation in February 2016, in Haryana.Balhara, who is alleged to have incited the mob to attack Haryana finance minister Captain Abhimanyu’s house in Rohtak during the February 2016 quota protest, is an advocate and had served as a law officer during former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda’s government.Though the court had rejected his anticipatory bail plea on Wednesday, the detailed order was made available on Saturday.Special CBI judge Jagdeep Singh in his eight page order observed, “As per allegations, present applicant-accused, Ashok Kumar Balhara is alleged to have incited the agitators to attack the house of Captain Abhimanyu on February 19, 2016, and he was allegedly identified by the independent witnesses at the place of occurrence. Keeping in view the gravity, and nature of allegations, this court is of the considered opinion that it is not a fit case to exercise extraordinary power of granting anticipatory bail.”Without commenting on the merits of the case, the court dismissed the bail application.Opposing Balhara’s anticipatory bail plea, CBI had submitted that not only was he identified by independent witnesses and his mobile phone location was also found to be at the place of occurrence on February 19, 2016.On completion of investigation, first chargesheet against two accused persons was filed in the court of special judicial magistrate, CBI, Panchkula December 15, 2017, while supplementary chargesheet was filed against 51 accused persons including Balhara on June 30. “There is every apprehension that he will tamper with the evidence, will influence and threaten the witnesses if granted concession of pre-arrest bail,” the probe agency had argued.The CBI took over the investigation in the case on the request of the Haryana government and consequent orders from the Centre’s department of personnel and training.Sources said that Ashok Kumar Balhara was likely to challenge Panchkula CBI court’s order in the Punjab and Haryana high court. His petition challenging the denial of anticipatory bail is expected to be taken up on Monday.

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