SURAT: The Gujarat government did not oppose the bail plea of 19 accused including former minister Kanti Gamit and his son booked under section 308 (attempt to commit culpable homicide) and Epidemic Disease Act, for organizing a mass gathering on November 30 at Dosavada village of Songadh taluka in Tapi district.
During the hearing of the bail plea of Gamit and others, special public prosecutor Nayan Sukhadwala submitted before the sessions judge that the investigating officer in the case had no objection to the bail pleas if the accused cooperated in the probe.
“In this case, considering the provision of the punishment against the accused, if accused remain present during the trial, do not violate the bail conditions and cooperate with police investigation, complainant (police itself) has no objections to the conditional bail to accused,” Sukhadwala had stated in the court. Based on this argument, the court granted bail to the 19 accused on Monday.
Earlier, the judicial magistrate had rejected the bail plea of the accused, following which they had filed an appeal in the sessions court.
This stand of the prosecution and the investigating agency (police) not objecting to the bail pleas comes even after the Gujarat high court had pulled up the government and local police for turning a blind eye to the massive gathering despite restriction orders.
The state government had also assured the HC that it had taken serious note of the incident and booked the accused under IPC section 308 and suspended concerned police officials.
Gamit and others were arrested on December 2 by the Tapi police for organising the pre-wedding ceremony of Gamit’s granddaughter in Dosavada village.
Appearing for Gamit, their lawyer JN Bhandari had argued that the event was not organised by his client or his son Jetu. Bhandari further contended that the gathering was for on the occasion of Tulsi Vivah where are common kitchen is organised every year.
He claimed that it was a mere coincidence that the engagement ceremony Gamit’s granddaughter was on the same day.