The hearing was adjourned Thursday due to the absence of investigators (Representation)
Thane:
A special court in Thane district of Maharashtra ruled Thursday to hear bail applications filed by 101 defendants in the Palghar lynching case, which killed three people on November 3.
The judge of the special court PP Jadhav adjourned the hearing due to the absence of the investigators of the case.
Special Prosecutor Satish Maneshinde opposed the defendants’ bail applications and submitted the details of each defendant’s role and their Appeal Data Recordings (CDRs) to the court.
Lawyer Amrut Adhikari, who appeared on behalf of the applicants, argued that the FIR did not mention their names as assailants and therefore their involvement in the crime appeared suspect.
“The detention interrogation of these applicants has been completed and the investigation has also been completed. Charges have also been laid at the JMFC court in Dahanu by the CID. In such circumstances, their further detention is not required.” , indicates the request for release on bail. .
Lawyer Pramod Oza appeared on behalf of the families of the two sadhus, who were killed in the incident.
In all, three FIRs related to killings, armed riots and other charges were recorded in connection with the incident, in which two sadhus and their driver were killed by a group of people in the village of Gadchinchale in Palghar on April 16 as they traveled in a car to Surat to attend a funeral during the coronavirus-induced lockdown.
The brutal attack came amid rumors of child lifters roaming the area during the lockdown.
The case was then turned over to CID for investigation.
The victims were identified by police as Chikne Maharaj Kalpavrukshagiri (70), Sushil Giri Maharaj (35) and their driver Nilesh Telgade (30).
The defendants in this case have been charged with murder, armed riots and the use of criminal force to prevent an official from performing his duty, among other offenses.
Currently, 128 people, including two minors, are placed in judicial detention. At least 24 others were arrested in connection with the case on Wednesday.
