New Delhi: The Supreme Court termed Thursday former IAF officer Ranjith KK, who’s facing trial under the Official Secrets Act (OSA), as dangerous for India and denied him bail. A bench headed by Chief Justice SA Bobde and comprising Justices AS Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian declined to entertain a plea filed by Ranjith against a Delhi High Court order. Ranjith is facing trial for allegedly sharing sensitive information with suspects considered a front for Pakistan’s intelligence service.
The bench said, “You are a danger to the entire nation. You remain where you are.’
Ranjith’s lawyer contended before the bench that his client has not seen his mother in Kerala for five years. This is because he has been in jail under the OSA. To which the bench replied, “You should have thought about all this before you did it.” The top court said: “The special leave petition is dismissed. Pending application(s), if any, shall also stand disposed of.”
Ranjith had earlier urged the high court to grant him bail. He said he was a young man at the time of his arrest. The only charge framed against him was under a section, which has maximum punishment for 14 years. He had joined the IAF as leading aircraftman.
In its order, the Delhi High Court had noted that according to the FIR and the order by which the charge was framed against him, the petitioner is accused of having passed on sensitive data to persons who were intending to threaten the sovereignty and integrity of India.
The police had alleged that he was honey-trapped and afterwards shared sensitive information with Pakistan’s secret service.
While denying Ranjith bail, the high court also took into account the various documents that have been recovered. Among them included WhatsApp chat history, map of the Air Force base and other vital information.
