New Delhi: The Supreme Court has rejected the anticipatory bail pleas of Jitha Bhaskar and Sreelatha, accused in the Karuvannur Service Cooperative Bank fraud case. The bench comprising Justices A. Amanullah and Manmohan dismissed their pleas.

Jitha Bhaskar is the wife of Biju, first accused and former manager of the bank, while Sreelatha is the wife of Jilse, third accused and a senior accountant at the bank. Appearing for the two women, advocate Shinoj K. Narayanan argued that they were not bank employees and had no connection with the alleged fraud.

The Supreme Court had earlier granted bail to Jitha Bhaskar and Sreelatha in another case arising from the Karuvannur bank scam. The bench headed by Justice Amanullah noted that the existence of the other case had not been brought to the court's notice at that time. The court also pointed out that 21 cases have been registered against their husbands.

The court observed that although the two women were not bank employees, the possibility that their husbands had involved them in the alleged fraud could not be ruled out.

The case against Jitha and Sreelatha relates to allegations that land mortgaged with the bank was sold as part of the fraudulent transactions. The State, represented by standing counsel Aljo K. Joseph, strongly opposed their plea for anticipatory bail. The Karuvannur case has a major political dimension in Kerala, as the Thrissur cooperative bank was controlled by CPI(M)-linked local leadership.