New Delhi, March 23 : A Delhi Court on Wednesday granted bail to the Marketing Director of GAIL, who was arrested in connection of allegedly taking bribe of over Rs 50 lakh from prospective beneficiaries of a policy of providing discounts to dealers selling products of the Maharatna PSU. It is alleged by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) that Ranganathan was collecting bribes from prospective beneficiaries of discounts to private companies buying petro chemical products marketed by the Maharatna PSU. CBI have unearthed the alleged bribery scam involving Ranganathan, middlemen and some businessmen and conducted the searches at eight locations including the office and residence of Ranganathan. In this matter, the national agency has recovered cash of about Rs 1.29 crore, gold jewellery and other valuables during the searches from the premises of accused Ranganathan. The Counsel for Ranganathan moved the bail application before the Court by submitting that charge sheet in the matter has already been filed and other accused have been granted bail and the apprehension that he might influence the witnesses, was not supported by any actual threat and that the trial of the matter may take a long period. He requested the Court to grant bail to the accused by levelling any terms and conditions. Special CBI Judge Anuradha Shukla Bhardwaj, after hearing arguments on behalf of Prosecution and Defence Counsels, granted relief to Ranganathan with the conditions of furnishing personal bond in the sum of Rs two lakh with one surety in the like amount. The Court further directed him to join the investigation as and when directed by the Investigating Officer and not to contact or try to influence any witness and not to leave NCR without informing the Investigating Officer. XC RJ