Gadchiroli Naxalite attack 2019: Bombay High Court modifies bail conditions for 73-year-old accused
Gadchiroli: Noting that 73-year-old Satyanarayan Rani, accused in the 2019 Gadchiroli Naxalite attack, was being held in jail despite getting bail in July 2022, the Bombay High Court has modified his bail conditions and required him to furnish a personal bond of Rs 1 lakh. But his release has been allowed.
On July 15, the High Court granted him bail saying there was “prima facie no evidence” against Rani, husband of alleged Maoist leader and co-accused late Nirmala Uppuganti. He was directed to be released on depositing a bail amount of Rs 1 lakh. However, Rani approached the High Court seeking modification of this condition and said that she had no relative in Mumbai who could stand surety for her.
Accused of burning 27 vehicles
Rani and the late Uppunganti were arrested in connection with an incident involving the burning of 27 vehicles of an infrastructure company and the explosion of a pressure bomb in Gadchiroli in May 2019, resulting in the death of 15 police personnel and a civilian. Uppuganti died earlier this year at a hospice for palliative care due to his terminal illness.
Rani’s lawyer Yug Chaudhary said that seventy-year-old Rani has no family in Mumbai and is penniless, lacking the resources to post any kind of bail or even cash bail. Chaudhary further mentioned that Rani is suffering from serious health ailments, including cerebral cavernoma, a focal lesion in the left temporal lobe, a history of tremors in both hands, cataracts and disability in the left limb, making it extremely difficult to walk.
NIA opposed the petition
NIA prosecutor Shrikant Sonkawade opposed the plea, arguing that the central agency had moved the Supreme Court challenging his bail.
However, Chaudhary pointed out that the apex court has not stayed the bail granted to Rani, and hence she cannot be detained merely because the appeal is pending before the Supreme Court.
A division bench of Justices Revati Mohite-Dere and Gauri Godse on December 19 modified the bail conditions and directed Rani’s release on a personal bond of Rs 1 lakh. The High Court also directed him to be present at the NIA office between 10:00 am and 12:00 noon on the first Friday of every month till the conclusion of the trial. He has also been directed not to leave Mumbai and Thane area without prior permission of the NIA court.
Additionally, he has been directed to provide his mobile number to the NIA if he gets any.
