Tuesday, September 6 2005 19:24 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Baripada: A local court today (Sept 6, 2005) rejected the bail plea of Dara Singh, convicted in the Graham Staines murder case, in a case involving the killing of a trader in Padiabeda market of Mayurbhanj district in 1999.

The Sessions Judge, Harihar Satpathy, who had reserved his order on the bail plea moved by Dara's lawyer yesterday, rejected the same. The court also upheld the plea of the prosecution to add section 302 of IPC in the Padiabeda case. The case had been registered under section 396 of IPC.

The public prosecutor Ajay Patnaik had argued in the court yesterday for inclusion of section 302 of IPC in the case. A group of people had attacked a trader, Sheikh Rehman, at Padiabeda market leading to his death. Dara is facing trial in three cases in the court.

His lawyer had earlier moved bail petitions in the court in connection with the killing of catholic priest Arul Doss and burning down of a cattle-laden truck in which the vehicle's helper died. But the pleas were rejected as well. The court fixed September 28 and 29 next for further hearing of the Padiabeda case.