The Bombay High Court has granted bail to Sagar Gorkhe and Ramesh Gaichor, who were arrested in connection with the Bhima Koregaon–Elgar Parishad case, noting the prolonged period of incarceration they have already undergone.
The order was passed by a division bench while hearing bail applications filed by the two accused, who were charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and other provisions. The court took into account the fact that the trial is yet to commence and that several co-accused in the case have already been released on bail.
Gorkhe and Gaichor were among those accused of having links with banned organisations and allegedly participating in a larger conspiracy related to the violence that broke out near Bhima Koregaon village in Maharashtra in January 2018. The prosecution had claimed that speeches and activities connected to the Elgar Parishad event triggered the unrest.
While allowing the bail pleas, the High Court imposed standard conditions to ensure the accused do not tamper with evidence or influence witnesses. With their release, only a limited number of accused persons remain in custody in the case.
The Bhima Koregaon matter has drawn sustained judicial scrutiny over the years, particularly in relation to extended pre-trial detention and delays in the completion of proceedings under stringent anti-terror laws.
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