Islamabad (Staff Report): The Supreme Court on Monday granted bail to anchorperson Dr Shahid Masood in PTV corruption case against surety bonds worth Rs500,000.
A two-member bench headed by Justice Manzoor Ahmed accepted Masood's bail application in a case pertaining to embezzlement of Rs38 million from state-run broadcaster Pakistan Television.
Earlier, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) judge Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani had rejected Dr Shahid Masood’s bail in the case.
During the hearing, the court was informed that Dr Shahid Masood is under arrest while the other suspects are on bail and returning the money.
After hearing the arguments, the court reserved its decision on the anchorperson’s bail plea.
The anchorperson was arrested by Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on November 23 from the premises of Islamabad High Court (IHC) after his bail plea was rejected by the court. On November 24, the court handed over Dr Shahid Masood on five-day physical remand.
The FIA presented the accused before the court of Duty Judge Inamullah as his five-day judicial remand ended.
During the hearing, the FIA said that Dr Shahid Masood, who was appointed PTV chairman during Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) tenure, had signed an agreement with a fake company to negotiate with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) regarding coverage rights of cricket matches played in Pakistan.
The FIA maintained the stance that the anchor person, as former chairman of the state TV, was involved in embezzlement of around Rs37 million as he negotiated with PCB for media rights and granted them to a fake catering company.
The investigation agency requested for an extension in the remand of the accused however, the judge rejected the request and directed to send Dr Masood to Adiala Jail on judicial remand.