Nagpur: Even as the police are surprisingly beating around the bush in search of absconding accused in Munna Yadav family’s scuffle case, the Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court on Tuesday highlighted the failure of city police in submitting the reply. The court also adjourned the hearing till Wednesday. His wife Lakshmi, BJP corporator from Ajni and sons — Karan and Arjun — had filed anticipatory bail plea apprehending arrest under offences of attempt to murder lodged against them at Dhantoli Police Station.
Commissioner of police K Venkatesham defended the cops stating that investigations were “in progress” and they had checked possible hideouts of the accused twice, but didn’t trace them.
Yadav is yet to file any application for anticipatory bail. He and his younger brother Bala, are absconding, according to police, who miserably failed to trace them even after over two weeks of incident.
On allegations that not a single accused from both sides was arrested till date, even after 17 days of infamous group clash, Venkatesham told media that both would be arrested simultaneously. On whether Munna would be brought under ambit of Maharashtra Prevention of Dangerous Activities (MPDA) Act, the top cop said it would be decided by the investigation officer.
The Yadav siblings along his wife and sons are accused of allegedly attacking and seriously injuring relative Mangal Yadav, his sister Manju, brothers — Papa and Gabbar Yadav, and others, on October 21 over a dispute on bursting firecrackers. The entire family is booked under Sections 324, 325, 147, 148 and 149 of IPC, besides 307, which is for attempt to murder.
On other hand, even Munna’s sons lodged a counter complaint against Mangal Yadav and family and police had also booked latter’s family under Section 307 for attempt to murder. Earlier, the sessions court had rejected anticipatory bail plea of petitioners along with Manju, Mangal’s sister, in two different cases.
While the petitioners were represented by Nikhil Gaikwad and Uday Dable, the prosecution roped in Rajnish Vyas to assist them in the high-profile case. In last hearing, the petitioners were represented by a battery of lawyers, including senior counsel Sunil Manohar, and Akash Gupta, besides Gaikwad and Dable.
Dable said that they would file anticipatory bail pleas of Munna and Bala after outcome of cases filed by his wife and sons. During last hearing, justice Atul Chandurkar ad-interim protection from arrest to his corporator wife, but denied same to his sons.
The BJP corporator from Ajni Ward was directed to furnish a personal bond of Rs20,000 and one surety in the like amount. She was further also told to attend the police station and act as per the directions of investigation officer. She was further warned her against taking any steps to influence the prosecution witnesses.
