Mumbai: Mumbai high court on April 25 rejected the bail plea of S D Karnik, former chairman of Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) and prime accused in the multi-crore answer paper scam on the ground that he was prima facie involved in the crime.

Justice Vijaya Tahilramani asked him to surrender on April 26 before anti-corruption bureau, which had registered a case against him and 18 others for replacing answer books of 1999 written examination conducted by MPSC by taking bribes from candidates.

Karnik had earlier secured bail from High Court, but the state government moved the Supreme Court in appeal. The apex Court had set aside the High Court order and asked Karnik to move the latter for bail afresh. Accordingly, Karnik urged for liberty.

Turning down his bail plea, the court observed that he was connected with influential persons and appeared to be prima facie involved in the crime.

The state government filed an 800-page affidavit in the High Court to oppose Karnik's bail. The affidavit highlighted how Karnik was involved in the scam during his tenure in MPSC and subsequently when he joined Union Public Service Commission as a member.

The affidavit harped on Karnik's role in the scam and how he contacted other accused even after leaving MPSC. Public prosecutors Shahji Shinde and Ajay Gadkari argued that the state had obtained documentary evidence against Karnik and also recorded statements of witnesses allegedly implicating him in the crime.

PTI