Sreekumar out of jail after 94 days, Gujarat HC grants him interim bail till November 15
The retired IPS (Indian Police Service) officer, DGP, RB Sreekumar, who was arrested on June 25, along with activist, Teesta Setalvad after the Supreme Court’s Jakia Jafri judgment, today gets interim bail from the Gujarat High Court.
A single judge bench of the Gujarat High Court, Justice Ilesh J Vora, granted interim bail to accused, Sreekumar, on executing a personal bond of Rs 10,000 before the Jail authority.
“Having heard the lawyers for the respective parties and considering the fact that the charge-sheet is filed before the Court concerned, I am inclined to grant him interim bail and accordingly, the applicant (Sreekumar) shall be released on interim bail till November 15, 2022, on executing personal bond of Rs.10,000 before the Jail authority on usual terms and conditions,” Gujarat High Court’s Single Judge Justice Vora in his order said.
The Court in its order also said that the applicant (Sreekumar) is directed to deposit his passport within a week from the date of his release from jail. The applicant to surrender before the Jail Authority on completion of interim bail, without fail.
Deepa Srijith, daughter of Sreekumar, expressed her happiness and said that she is happy that the Gujarat High Court has granted her father the interim bail.
“Yes, the Gujarat High Court Judge Justice Ilesh J Vora, granted bail to my father. We are relieved now,” Deepa said.
An Ahmedabad Sessions Court in Gujarat on July 30, this year, had dismissed the bail application of social activist, Teesta and former Gujarat DGP (Director General of Police) Sreekumar, in connection with an alleged case of fabrication of evidence related to the 2002 Gujarat riots case.
The Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) of Ahmedabad Court, D D Thakkar had on July 30, dismissed the bail of Sreekumar, after noting the petition is devoid of merits.
After the rejection of bail, Sreekumar had knocked the doors of the Gujarat High Court for bail.
Y N Ravani, lawyer for the accused Sreekumar, argued before the Gujarat High Court that in view of filing of charge-sheet and considering the age of his client, he may be enlarged on interim bail as he is in custody since June 25, 2022. Ravani further submitted that he intended to file a fresh application before the Court concerned and therefore, discretion may kindly be exercised by granting him interim bail.
On the other hand, Mitesh Amin, Public Prosecutor for the respondent-State (Gujarat) opposed the bail of Sreekumar and submitted to the Gujarat High Court that considering the role attributed to the present applicant (Sreekumar) in the alleged offence, no case is made out for granting him interim bail.
The Gujarat High Court, after considering all the facts and circumstances into the case, allowed the petition of Sreekumar and granted him interim bail till November 15.
