The court cites a lack of solid evidence and harsh conditions endured during the 11-month imprisonment
Team Clarion
MUMBAI – Sixteen Muslim youths, arrested in connection with the January violence in the Naya Nagar area of Mira Road in this cosmopolitan city of Maharashtra, have been granted bail by the Bombay High Court after nearly 11 months in custody. The court, presided over by Justice NJ Jamdar, ruled on Monday to release the accused, citing insufficient evidence to substantiate the charges of serious crimes such as attempted murder, rioting, and assault.
On January 21, immediately after the inauguration of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, two Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLAs – Nitesh Rane and Geeta Jain – led a group of Hindutva supporters and entered Naya Nagar, a Muslim-dominated area. Carrying saffron flags and chanting “Jai Shree Ram,” slogans they attempted to enter every lane of Naya Nagar. The rift escalated as they harassed local women, chanted slogans near them, and attempted to place a flag on the mosque. The situation worsened, leading to heated arguments when locals asked them to respect their sentiments. The arguments soon turned into widespread violence and damage to property.
The Mira Road police had arrested 24 individuals, including three minors who were subsequently released on bail earlier this year. One of the accused was granted bail in September by the sessions court.
During the hearing, defence advocates Shahud Anwar Naqvi, Mahir Desai, Mobin Solkar, and others challenged the police’s handling of the case. They argued that many of the arrested youths were not involved in the violence, which was substantiated by video evidence presented in court. “The police have not taken any action against individuals who incited the violence or those responsible for creating unrest in the name of religion. Our clients have endured harsh imprisonment for 11 months despite minimal injuries sustained in the incident,” stated advocate Shahud Anwar Naqvi.
The defence also highlighted that the serious charges levelled against the accused, including attempted murder, were inappropriate given the nature of the injuries and the lack of direct involvement of many of the youths.
The prosecution opposed the bail plea, arguing that releasing the accused could lead to tampering with evidence and potentially disrupt the ongoing investigation.
After reviewing the evidence and hearing arguments from both sides, Justice Jamdar ordered the release of the 16 accused with specific conditions to ensure their cooperation in the ongoing legal process.
“The release of these individuals is a step towards fairness, as justice must be based on evidence, not assumptions,” remarked advocate Gayatri Singh, who also represented the accused.
The remaining accused, including one who has filed a separate bail application, await further court proceedings. The release of the 16 individuals is expected to take place after the completion of formalities.
This development has sparked discussions about the impartiality of law enforcement actions in cases involving communal tensions.
The case serves as a reminder of the need for balanced legal proceedings that uphold justice without bias or prejudice.
