The Supreme Court has named an ex-Indian Air Force official (IAF) who is faced by a trial under the Official Secrets Act (OSA) “dangerous for the country” and denied him bail. A bench directed by Chief Justice SA Bobde and involving Justices V Ramasubramanian and AS Bopanna refused to entertain an appeal in the Supreme court registered by IAF Ranjith KK against a Delhi High Court order.
Ranjith is facing a trial for allegedly offering sensitive data to suspects considered a front for Pakistan’s intelligence service.
The bench stated: “You are a danger to the entire country. You remain where you are.”
Ranjith’s attorney battled before the bench that his client has not seen his mother in Kerala for a very long time, as he has been in prison under the OSA. And in reply the bench answered, “You should have considered about all this prior to what you did it.”
The top court stated: “The special leave appeal is rejected. Pending application, if any, shall also stand disposed of.”
Ranjith had before requested the high court to allow him bail, saying he was a youngster at the hour of his arrest and the main charge framed against him was under a section, which has maximum sentence for 14 years.
He had entered the IAF as leading aircraftman.
In its order, the high court had noticed that as indicated by the FIR and the order by which the charge was framed against him, the applicant is blamed for having given sensitive information to people who were intending to compromise the power and integrity of the nation.
The police had affirmed that he was honey-caught and subsequently revealed sensitive data to Pakistan’s secret service.
While refusing bail, the high court moreover considered that different archives have been recovered, which included WhatsApp talk history, map of the Air Force base and so on.
