The Supreme Court Thursday rejected a petition by Abdul Nazar Madani, the key accused in the 1998 Coimbatore bomb blasts, seeking bail on health grounds.

A bench of judges H.K. Sema and B.N. Srikrishna dismissed a special leave petition from Madani challenging a Madras High Court order refusing him bail after hearing senior counsel Sushil Kumar, who appeared for Madani, and senior counsel K.T.S. Tulsi who represented Tamil Nadu.

A total of 58 people died and about 250 were injured in the blasts at Coimbatore that occurred Feb 14-17, 1998.

The bench also dismissed a habeas corpus petition filed by Madani's wife Soofia, challenging his detention in jail since 1998, and a writ petition from Madani raising various legal grounds.

Sushil Kumar conceded that he was not pressing for bail on health grounds but only seeking proper treatment for Madani in prison. He said Madani had been held in jail for over seven years.

Madani was suffering from various ailments and required Ayurvedic treatment available at Kottakkal in Kerala, he said.

Tulsi brought to the court's notice that, according to an earlier direction by the apex court, a panel of doctors attended on Madani July 4-31 in Coimbatore prison.

On all these days, Madani had refused to take Ayurvedic pills or oil. Tulsi said Madani's plea was only an excuse to stall his trial.

The bench recorded the submissions of both counsel and dismissed all the petitions.