Hyderabad: A division bench comprising Justice L. Narasimha Reddy and Justice M.S.K. Jaiswal of the Andhra Pradesh High Court on Wednesday granted bail to Devender Gupta and Lokesh Sharma, the accused in the 2007 terror attack at the Macca Masjid.
Nine people were killed and over 60 injured in the powerful blast during Friday prayers on May 18, 2007, at the mosque. The National Investigation Agency has named Sharma and Gupta as Accused No. 1 and Accused No. 2 respectively among the six accused arrested by it so far.
While granting bail, the Bench directed the petitioners to execute a bond for Rs 50,000 each with two sureties each, for the same amount to the satisfaction of the trial court. The Bench directed the trial court to release the petitioners on bail, unless their detention is needed in any other case.
The HC bench also refused the request of the National Investigation Agency prosecutor for suspension of the bail saying, “We are of the view that the accused were denied the benefit of bail for some time. Since their personal liberty is restricted we cannot consider the request of the prosecutor.”
