Ahmedabad: A city sessions court on Saturday denied regular bail to two persons who were arrested in connection with rioting in the Vastral area on March 13 evening. The video of the incident was shot by a witness, and it showed a mob of some 20 persons attacking an SUV owner before damaging other vehicles in the vicinity using swords and sticks.
The police later found out that the brawl was a fallout of a rivalry between two persons over the opening of a food stall in the area. The police arrested 17 persons, including a juvenile.
Two of them — Rajvirsinh Bihola and Alkesh Yadav — filed an application for regular bail. They maintained innocence, claiming that there was no evidence showing their involvement in the alleged offence. However, their bail plea was opposed by public prosecutor Sudhir Brahmbhatt, who pointed out the role actively played by the accused persons from the affidavit filed by the investigator.
After hearing the arguments, additional sessions judge H G Pandya rejected their bail application, stating, “Considering the documents supplied by the prosecution, the present applicants’ role is clearly visible that they were riding on the vehicle with weapons. It does not seem justifiable to shield the elements who create an atmosphere of panic among common people. It is not appropriate to evaluate the evidence at this juncture. And at the stage of bail, the gravity of the offence and applicants’ role are taken into consideration, and this does not seem a fit case to release the applicants on bail. Moreover, the investigation is ongoing. The investigating officer submits that if the accused are released on bail, they will influence the witnesses.”
Immediately after this incident, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) bulldozed illegal constructions put up by the families of six accused persons. Issuance of a short-term show-cause notice brought the family of an accused to the Gujarat high court as well. The director general of police (DGP) ordered the department to prepare a list of anti-social elements and the constructions put up by them illegally.