Bengalurur: In a setback to Shanthinagar MLA N.A. Haris’ son Mohammed Nalapad Haris and six others accused of assaulting 24-year-old Vidwath at Farzi Café in UB City on February 17, the 63rd City Civil and Sessions Court on Friday rejected their bail petitions.
Justice Parameshwar Prasanna, who had earlier reserved his orders in the case for Friday, pronounced the judgment denying bail to any of the accused stating that the “gravity of offences does not weigh personal liberty of the petitioner.”
Justice Prasanna further pointed out, “In case of grant of bail to the petitioner, the chances of them posing a threat to the prosecution witnesses and of his abscondence and chances of him committing similar offences cannot be ruled out. Considering the gravity and seriousness of the offences, reasonable apprehension of witnesses being tampered, this court is of the considered view that the petitioner is not entitled for bail,” he said. Two bail petitions were filed before the court, one by advocates Tomy Sebastian and Usman P. who represented Nalapad and another by S. Balan, who represented the other six accused. Vidwath was represented by the Special Public Prosecutor M.S. Shyamsundar. All the seven accused are in judicial custody till March 7.
Meanwhile, advocates of Nalapad and the other six accused have decided to challenge the judgment in the High Court on Monday. Advocate Balan said he would seek interim bail in the High court as he termed the case as “hyped”, while maintaining that the case was a simple drunken brawl, blown out of proportion by the prosecution and police.
“There is no provision for Section 307 of IPC in this case. Moreover, the timing and the admission of the victim to the private hospital and the evidence provided have been doctored. The prosecution and the investigating agencies have fabricated and manipulated the case, which amounts to perjury,” Balan added.
After the court’s verdict, advocate Shyamsundar told reporters that he was happy with the judgment and termed it as a triumph of justice. Earlier in the day, Shyamsundar had tweeted his concern over the judgment and feared that the accused may get bail due to their political influence. “A lot of politics is involved from the beginning of the case,” he said.
B’luru another ‘Udta Punjab’: Lehar Singh
Giving new twist to Nalapad case, BJP senior leaderLehar Singh Siroya on Friday charged that the unabated supply of drugs in the vicinity of upscale restaurants and schools has turned Bengaluru into another ‘Udta Punjab’.
The BJP leader was referring to the Bollywood movie on rampant drug abuse in Punjab. Speaking to reporters after hosting Holi party, in an upscale hotel here, Mr Siroya observed that Nalapad case should not be seen in a simplistic manner.
No one would have beaten Vidwath the way he was. It looks like the attackers were under the influence of drugs, he added.
He alleged that at least eight plush hangouts in and around upscale UB city were supplying drugs like ganja to youths. Training his guns against Chief Minister Siddarmaiah, Mr Siroya said he has become a puppet in the hands of drug mafia that is ruling the city.
