Gandhi given bail in case he is arrested

Press, 1 June 1977, Page 9

Gandhi given bail in case he is arrested

NZPA-Reuter New Delhi! Indian tax authorities have announced plans to sell parts of the Maruti ca. factory, controlled by Mrs Indira Gandhi’s controversial son, Sanjay, to recover tax arrears. It was also disclosed that the Delhi High Court hao granted Mr Gandhi bail in case he was arrested in connection with his business activities. (Granting of bail before arrest is common in India). The Government has launched an investigation of th Maruti group. Tax officials in Haryana state where Maruti is based on Monday said that land, buildings, and machinery belonging to the company would be sold at a public auction on June 16. Maruti has been told it is liable for 950,000 rupees (about $110,000) in unpaid taxes.

Maruti was given a licence seven years ago to make a "people’s car,” but the project did not flourish and until recently the com-

pany was making bus bodies.

: Mr Gandhi, who is 30, a powerful figure in politics when his mother was Prime Minister, was granted bail of 5000 rupees (about $580) and a surety of the same amount on Saturday by Justice V. D. Mishra. He was ordered not to leave the country without the Court’s permission. Mr Gandhi, former leader of the Congress Party youth wing, has been under criticism for his business affairs since his mother lost the General Election, in March. Escaper caught A Eritish jail escaper, Brian Lesley O’Callaghan, aged 29, has been recaptured in Melbourne. He had escaped from a British jail in 1972 while serving a sentencv for a $55,000 jewel robbery. He had been caught once before, in October, 1974, but after being charged with a $175,000 Melbourne robbery he was given bail and absconded. — Melbourne.