New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on February 3 dismissed the bail plea of Navjot Sandhu alias Afsan Guru, the lone woman convict in Parliament attack case, saying the prosecution has filed an appeal against her acquittal for the offences under Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) and other provisions and for enhancement of sentence awarded to her for not disclosing the conspiracy.

"We find that grounds urged on merit could not be taken at this stage as state has filed appeal against her acquittal for the offences under POTA, Explosive Substance Act and sections 120B (criminal conspiracy), 302 (murder), 121 (waging war against country), 307 (attempt to murder) and for enhancement of sentence for the offence of section 123 (not disclosing the conspiracy) of IPC (Indian Penal Code)," a Bench comprising Justice Usha Mehra and Justice Pradeep Nandrajog said.

While rejecting Sandhu's bail, who has been awarded five-years' rigorous sentence by the special POTA court for not disclosing the conspiracy to attack Parliament on December 13, 2001, the court said the appeals of state would be heard at the earliest since the notices have already been served.

Taking into consideration the health problems of Sandhu, the Bench directed the jail authorities to provide her medical facilities and proper care to her child born in the jail.

The court also admitted an appeal by the alleged Jaish-e-Mohammad militant Mohd Afzal challenging his conviction and death penalty for the December 13 attack.

However, the Bench did not accept the plea of Afzal's lawyer that he (Afzal) should be allowed to be present during the hearing of the case.

PTI