The main accused in the Siwan journalist murder case, Md Kaif alias Banti, was granted bail by the special CBI court on north Bihar, headquartered at Muzaffarpur, on Thursday as chargesheet against him was not submitted within the stipulated 90 days of his arrest.

CBI judge Anupama Kumari heard a bail petition filed by Sharad Sinha on behalf of Kaif before granting the bail. The CBI counsel was absent during the hearing.

Kaif’s lawyer told HT that this was a moral victory for them as CBI officials had failed to submit the chargesheet. “It shows that they have nothing against my client. A period of 90 days is enough to gather evidence. But, their failure to submit the chargesheet is a clear indication that my client is innocent in this particular case, registered under section 120 B, 302, 34 of IPC as well as section 27 of arms Act,” Sinha added.