All the accused, including the five absconding right wing activists, in the stone-throwing incident during RSS activist Sharath Madiwala’s funeral procession in BC Road on July 8 were granted bail by a District and Sessions Court here on Wednesday.
The five right wing activists, Bharatiya Janata Party Backward Class Morcha State secretary Sathyajit Surathkal, Bajrang Dal State convenor Sharan Pumpwell, Bajrang Dal leader Pradeep Pumpwell, BJP Yuva Morcha Dakshina Kannada district unit president Harish Poonja and Bajrang Dal Dakshina Pranta Goraksha Pramukh Muralikrishna Hasantadka, who are accused of conspiracy in the stone-throwing, had applied for anticipatory bail under Section 438 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
Meanwhile, 17 persons arrested by the Bantwal Town Police too had filed applications seeking bail under Section 439 of Cr.PC. Fourth Additional District and Sessions Judge Nerale Veerabhadraiah Bhavani heard both the anticipatory and regular bail applications.
In the order allowing anticipatory bail on Wednesday, the judge said that the five absconding persons should be released on personal bond of ₹ 50,000 and with two sureties of which one has to be from their father or mother or wife or brother.
All the five have been asked to appear before the investigating officer within the next seven days.
They have also been asked to regularly appear before the Bantwal Town Police twice every week till the filing of the charge-sheet.
They have been directed to obtain regular bail from Additional Civil Judge and JMFC Court within the next 14 days.
Among the other conditions imposed include a bar on these five persons from entering Bantwal without the express permission of the local magistrate. This bar would not apply to their appearing before court for hearing. The five have also been asked not to intimidate any witnesses and get involved in any crime. The judge said that if any of the conditions are violated, the bail will be cancelled on an application from the investigation officer.
Similar conditions have been imposed by the judge in the regular bail granted to the 17 other accused persons.
