HYDERABAD: The special judge of anticorruption (Central) Hyderabad on Tuesday rejected the bail applications of Seth Goharullah, former president of the Hyderabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (HCCI), and a line superintendent of Hesco, Asad Abro, in a case of running an illegal powerhouse.

The order on the bail pleas was reservedon Sept20by an actingjudge of the court.

The judge observed that incriminating material for the generation and distribution of electricity was seized during a raid from the place of offence, which showed that the applicant without legal authorisation -required for the purpose of generation/distribution of electricity -was found involved in generation/distribution of electricity to the unregistered consumers of Hesco.

The court said that Goharullah, prima facie, appeared to be linked with the offence with which he was charged and failed to bring his case within meaning of `further inquiry`.

The judge was of the view that the accused had not made out their case for bail, therefore, their bail applications had no merit and were dismissed. Ghazanfar Ali Bhutto appeared on behalf of the state while Ayatullah Khuwaja represented Asad Abro.-Staff Correspondent