High Court Directs Release Of Chinese Woman Involved In Espionage Case

The Delhi High Court directed the release of a Chinese woman on bail in an espionage case on Wednesday.

Justice Yogesh Khanna in the case involving freelance journalist Rajeev Sharma set aside a sessions court order overturning the grant of bail by a magisterial court. Qing Shi was directed to surrender her passport to the investigating officer of the Delhi Police. She was further instructed to furnish a personal bond and surety of Rs 1 lakh each.

The High court said since the charge sheet was filed beyond the period of sixty days, the accused was entitled to statutory bail.

Meanwhile, Shi is directed to not leave the country without the permission of the trial court, providing her contact details/address to the investigating officer, making a video call to the officer in the first week of every month and keeping her mobile location active at all times, which are the other bail conditions.

"The petition is allowed. Consequently, the impugned order dated December 16, 2020, passed by the learned Appellate Court in Criminal Revision No.65/2020 is set aside,” the judge ordered.

It was further ordered that on furnishing a personal bond in the sum of Rs one lakh with one surety, the petitioner will be released from prison.

On September 14 last year, Rajeev Sharma was arrested by the Special Cell based on Indian intelligence inputs. As per reports, the police allegedly laid hold of defence classified documents from his residence.

Along with her Nepalese associate, Qing Shi was arrested in the espionage case and has been in judicial custody since September 2020.

The FIR registered in connection with the case alleges the commission of offences under the Official Secrets Act.