Accused granted bail on parity after three years of Tihar inmate’s murder

Khatri, represented by advocates Pardeep Khatri and Pranjal Bhaskar, had been charged for committing culpable homicide not amounting to murder and voluntarily causing hurt. He had sought bail on the grounds of parity.

The complainant in the case, Rahul alias Sunny — an inmate lodged in jail 4 in Tihar — had alleged that a verbal altercation took place on February 23, 2022 between a few inmates. Rupender, an inmate, had allegedly threatened another inmate, Ramniwas.

The next day, inmates Rupender and Arjun threatened others stating they were supreme within the jail premises and that Ramniwas would have to follow their command. Following this, Sunny alleged, Rupender and his friends started assaulting Ramniwas and the others with fists and sticks. Ramniwas succumbed to his injuries.

When the inmates who were assaulted questioned, they said that inmates Rahul alias Baba, Khatri and others were involved in the assault.

Baba was granted regular bail by the HC on July 1, 2024, after a two-and-a-half year incarceration, on the basis of which Khatri sought bail on the grounds of parity.

Khatri’s lawyers argued that Baba was holding a stick and hence, played a grave role in the incident, while Khatri had been “merely watching” and not “actively participating”.

“In view of the above and on the ground of parity, the petitioner is admitted to regular bail on furnishing a personal bond in the sum of Rs 50,000 with two surety in the like amount, to the satisfaction of learned trial court,” the HC held.