16 months after Aman’s death,accused get bail

After spending 16 months behind the bars,Ajay Verma,Naveen Verma,Abhinav Verma and Mukul Sharma walked out of jail. Additional Sessions Judge Purinder Vaidya asked them to furnish a bail bond of Rs 50,000 each and sureties of an equal amount. The next hearing in the case is on August 2.

The court order has disappointed Aman’s family. “It is a big setback and a serious blow. We are highly disappointed,” said Aman’s father,Rajender Kachroo.

Ajay Kochhar,counsel for the accused,said his clients “are very much within their legal rights to seek bail,especially because statements of the witnesses have already been recorded”.

The state government said it might challenge the order. “We have just come to know about this. The court order will be studied,and if needed,we will examine the possibility of approaching the High Court to seek cancellation of bail,” said an official of the home department.

The death of Aman,a first year MBBS student at Dr Rajendra Prasad Medical College in Kangra,had triggered a country-wide outrage. The Supreme Court had ordered suspension of the college principal and directed state and Central agencies to set in motion their legal and law-enforcing machinery. A magisterial inquiry ordered by the state government later confirmed ragging as the cause of Aman’s death. The inquiry report came down heavily on the college authorities for their inability to check ragging and also recommended action against a few doctors and college staff.

The 24-page report said: “On the intervening night of March 6 and 7,2009,four seniors Ajay Verma (intern),Abhinav Verma,Naveen Verma and Mukul Sharma (all second-year students) forcibly entered junior boys’ hostel in an inebriated state around 2 am. All freshers were lined up with their heads down. They were slapped,made to stand/sit in torturous postures and their heads were banged against the wall. There was a furry of slaps,punches and banging of heads against wall by the four senior boys.”

The report added: “Aman suffered ear perforation because of beating and,therefore,he had left the common room. His absence was noticed by Ajay Verma,who called him back. He was severely beaten up by the seniors,more particularly by Ajay Verma. The ragging continued till 4 am…”

Aman died on March 8. His death had prompted Himachal Pradesh to pass the Anti-Ragging Act that provides for stringent punishment in such cases.