Una Dalit flogging case: HC grants conditional bail to five accused

These five are among the 34 accused chargesheeted by the Gujarat CID (crime) on September 7 for publicly flogging four Dalit youths for skinning a dead cow on July 11

The Gujarat High Court on Friday granted conditional bail to five accused, including the alleged mastermind who runs a group of gau rakshaks, in Una Dalit flogging case. The court, while granting relief, said that the chargesheet has already been filed and the trial will take time.

Justice A J Desai, while pronouncing the order on bail plea of Shantilal Monpara, president of Sanatan Charitable Trust, observed that “prima facie, it appears that there is no direct or indirect role of the applicant, which would establish that he has instigated the assaulters and was in contact with him. It appears that he was not present at any of the places, where the incident has taken place.”

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The court has observed in the order that in certain incidents in the district, which is known for lions and wild animal habitats, the animals are hunted by wild animals and their dead bodies are found lying in the farms. “Those persons who are aware that certain persons are expert in skinning the animals, are informed to do needful and accordingly they carry out the work.”

The order states, “Some persons might be carrying out illegal activities of slaughtering the cows and, therefore, local residents have created awareness amongst themselves to stop such illegal activities.”

The court has said that although special provisions have been made for expeditious trial of the case, considering the voluminous record of the chargesheet and examination of 338 witnesses, “completion of trial would take considerable long time and, therefore, considering the principle laid down by the apex court, applicant would be entitled for regular bail on appropriate terms and conditions.”

The other accused who have been granted bail are then police inspector Nirmalsinh Jhala, Nitin Kumar Kothari, Natvarsinh Mer and police sub-inspector Narendra Pandey. The court has barred them from entering the limits of Una.

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These five are among the 34 accused chargesheeted by the Gujarat CID (crime) on September 7 for publicly flogging four Dalit youths for skinning a dead cow on July 11 in Mota Samadhiyala village of Una taluka in Gir-Somnath district.

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