Subhas Bhowmick granted bail

Former East Bengal coach Subhas Bhowmick, who was arrested by the CBI for allegedly taking a bribe of Rs 1.5 lakhs, was on Friday granted bail by a city court on health grounds.

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Special judge Shankar Das, observing that most of the investigation in the case was complete, granted bail to Bhowmick on a bail bond of Rs 10,000 with two sureties of similar amount.

Bhowmick, an officer with the Central Excise, was allegedly caught red-handed by the CBI while accepting a bribe of Rs 1.5 lakh on December two outside a South Kolkata club.

The judge directed Bhowmick to deposit his passport with the court and not to leave the country without its permission.

The former coach and footballer was also asked to meet the investigating officer on every alternate day till December 31.

The CBI lawyer opposed the bail plea on the ground that Bhowmick was an influential man and would tamper with evidence if released on bail.

He was relieved of the coach's job of East Bengal club following his arrest.

CBI had booked Bhowmick under section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

A renowned forward of the Indian soccer team, Bhowmick, who works with the anti-evasion department of Central Excise, was trapped in the CBI net while accepting the bribe.

According to the sources, Bhowmick had allegedly demanded a sum of Rupees four lakh as bribe from a businessman which was finally 'settled' at Rs 1.50 lakh.