KARACHI, Aug 22: The additional district and sessions’ judge, South, Farzana Anver Shah, rejected on Monday the bail application of Farooq Mengal, an accused in the murder case of his wife Afreen Baig.

Mengal is alleged to have masterminded the murder of the TV artiste. The driver of the victim and his wife, who was maid at Mengal’s house, are co-accused in the case. Afreen Baig, a TV artiste and producer, was killed at her DHA residence allegedly by her driver, Mohammad Bux Umrani, and his wife, Zahida.

Mohammad Bux gave his confessional statement before a judicial magistrate and stated that he had killed the woman on the inducement of her husband, Farooq Mengal.

The driver was given into judicial custody by the judicial magistrate after his confessional statement under Section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC). The accused, confessing conspiracy said that Farooq Maingal was angry as he suspected illicit relationship of Afreen with her former husband Masjood.

While giving his confessional statement before a judicial magistrate, the driver of the artiste, Mohammed Bux Umrani, stated that the victim’s husband had promised to give him Rs1 million for killing the woman.

The driver quoted Mengal as telling him that he suspected illicit relationship between Afreen and her former husband, Masjood. “Saab told me that he could not divorce his wife due to social pressure as he had already divorced his first wife”.

The driver stated that in case of divorce he would have to give his wife alimony of Rs1 million.

The trial court has framed the charges on the three accused, who are in jail. The court had earlier rejected the bail applications of the accused.