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SC grants interim bail to businessman Kailash Ramchandani in 2019 Gadchiroli blast case

Businessman Kailash Ramchandani’s lawyers told the Supreme Court that the NIA proposes to examine 146 witnesses in the Gadchiroli blast case, of which only one had been examined so far.

3 min readMumbaiJan 7, 2026 12:53 PM IST

On May 1, 2019, 15 security personnel of the Quick Response Team and one civilian were killed in a blast in Gadchiroli. (Express Archive Photo)

The Supreme Court on Tuesday granted interim bail to businessman Kailash Ramchandani, an accused in the 2019 Gadchiroli blast case in which 16 people, including 15 security personnel, were killed. Ramchandani has been in jail for over six years.

A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi set various conditions on Ramchandani and warned him that bail would be cancelled in case of any violations.

On May 1, 2019, 15 security personnel of the Quick Response Team and one civilian were killed in a blast in Gadchiroli. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) alleged that the conspiracy was planned by members of the banned CPI(Maoist) and arrested nine people, including Ramchandani, who was arrested on June 29, 2019. The accused were booked under sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA).

Ramchandani’s lawyers told the Supreme Court that the NIA proposes to examine 146 witnesses, of which only one has been examined so far. The accused were moved to a Mumbai jail after the case was transferred to the special NIA court in the city.

“The conclusion of the trial, in such circumstances, will take a reasonably long time. The petitioner does not have other criminal antecedents. It seems to us that, subject to such conditions which may ensure that the petitioner does not misuse the concession of bail, he can be released on bail with liberty to the concerned authorities to closely monitor and observe his activities,” the Supreme Court said, adding that it was not going into the merits of the case.

Ramchandani has been directed not to leave his native place without prior permission of the trial court, except for attending the trial; to report to the local police station in Gadchiroli regularly; not to delay the trial; and not to make any direct or indirect attempt to contact witnesses. “If it is found that the petitioner has violated any of the above-mentioned conditions or he is attempting to re-establish his alleged contact with the co-accused or their organisations, it is made clear that the bail granted to him today by this court shall be liable to be cancelled,” the bench said.

The accused in the case had earlier challenged the invocation of MCOCA against them, which the Bombay High Court had allowed. In January 2025, the Supreme Court had set aside the order. Charges were then framed against accused Sathyanarayana Rani, Parasram Maniram Tulavi, Somsay Dalasay Madavi, Kisan Sitaram Hidami, Dilip Hidami, Sukharu Gota, Dinkar Gota and Ramchandani. Apart from Rani, all the accused are behind bars.