India, Feb. 22 -- A special court under the Prevention of Corruption (PC) Act has granted bail to Raju Sampat Dheringe, a clerk in the office of the state Food and Drug Administration (FDA) minister Narhari Zirwal, who was arrested by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) for allegedly demanding a Rs.50,000 bribe to facilitate a temporary stay on the suspension of a medical shop licence at the Mantralaya.

Allowing the bail application, special judge Shayana Patil observed that the case involved the "demand and acceptance of bribe by an employee of Mantralaya itself", which "has the seriousness in the eyes of the public". However, the court held that "the investigation appears to be almost over and any reasonable ground is not made out for his...