Guwahati, June 2: Gauhati High Court today granted bail to city-based businessman Sailen Dutta Konwar and asked him to remain outside Assam for the next two months in the interest of the investigation, citing the order of Bombay High Court in the Shiney Ahuja case.

Konwar, who is behind bars since April 26 last for firing at his former friend and business partner, Mayur Talukdar, filed a bail petition in the high court on May 6 and was granted bail today by Justice Chitta Ranjan Sarma.

One of Konwar’s counsels, Bijon Mahajan, said the court, after hearing the bail petition, asked him to stay out of the city as the prosecution counsel complained that his presence might harm the investigation.

“The court asked him to stay in Delhi for two months and make himself available whenever required. It also warned him against directly or indirectly threatening the witnesses of the case,” Mahajan said.

“As Konwar is ill and has business interests in Delhi, the court allowed him to stay there for the next two months,” he said.

The court, however, said he could visit the state only with the permission of the chief judicial magistrate. The next hearing of the case will be after two months.

The businessman, along with two others, attacked his former friend Mayur Talukdar at Talukdar’s Karbi Path residence here. He then went and surrendered before police.

Konwar was booked under Section 25/27 of Arms Act, 1959, and Sections 307, 506, 427 and 34 IPC.