Karnataka reduces security expenses to Rs. 1.18 lakh, Maudany to travel to Kerala

Supreme Court’s rap on Karnataka government seems to have had its effect as State drastically reduced the expenses for escorting Bangalore Bomb Blasts accused Abdul Nasir Maudany to Kerala..As per the revised statement of charges produced by the State in Supreme Court, Maudany will have to pay Rs. 1.18 lakh for the escort by Karnataka police as against the earlier amount of Rs. 15 lakh which was quoted by the State..A Bench of Justices SA Bobde and L Nageswara Rao noted, in its order, about the revised charges submitted by Karnataka Standing Counsel, Joseph Aristotle. The Bench also noted that Maudany has no objection to the revised charges..“Mr. Joseph Aristotle S., learned counsel appearing for the respondent-State, has produced a letter dated 03.08.2017, issued by the Police Commissioner, Bengaluru City, along with Statement of 2 Charges for the escort of petitioner-accused (marked as ‘X’ for identification), which is taken on record. Mr. Prashant Bhusan, learned counsel appearing for the petitioner, has no objection to the said charges for escort in the circumstances of the case.”.However, since some time was already consumed due to the pendency of the case and uncertainty due to the initial expenses quoted by Karnataka, the Court agreed to Maudany’s request to modify the time period prescribed for travel..Maudany will now be allowed to visit Kerala from August 6 to August 19..“…he prays for modification in this Court’s order dated 31.07.2017 whereby the petitioner was allowed to travel for attending his son’s wedding, between 7th and 14th August, 2017, because some time has been consumed already. We accordingly direct that the petitioner shall be allowed to visit Kerala from 6th August, 2017 to 19th August, 2017 for the purposes already indicated in our earlier order dated 31.07.2017.”.Advocates Prashant Bhushan and Haris Beeran appeared for Maudany..Read the order below.