A Bengaluru court granted bail to Sharad Bhausaheb Kalaskar, the last accused in custody in the Gauri Lankesh murder case.
The order was issued by the Principal City Civil and Sessions judge Muralidhara Pai B. on Wednesday, January 8, allowing Kalaskar’s release on a personal bond with stringent conditions.
The accused, who has been in custody since September 4, 2018, had filed a petition under Section 439 of the Criminal Procedure Code, seeking regular bail. The defence argued that Kalaskar’s prolonged detention was unjustified, citing the release on bail of 16 co-accused in the case.
The case involves 18 accused individuals alleged to be part of an organised crime syndicate responsible for the assassination of journalist Gauri Lankesh on September 5, 2017. Kalaskar, the prosecution claimed, was involved in training other accused in arms handling and bomb preparation.
Court’s observations
While granting bail, the court noted that Kalaskar’s role did not directly link him to the act of murder and emphasised the principle of parity, as 16 of the 18 co-accused were already out on bail. Another accused, Vikas Patil, is absconding and yet to be arrested.
The court highlighted the extended period of incarceration faced by the accused and emphasised the constitutional right to a speedy trial. Pai underscored that prolonged pretrial detention undermines the fairness of justice.
The court dismissed concerns raised by the prosecution regarding potential threats to witnesses, noting that witness identities had been concealed and a substantial number of testimonies had already been recorded.
Bail conditions
Kalaskar’s bail comes with the following conditions:
- A personal bond of Rs 2,00,000 and two sureties of the same amount.
- Mandatory appearance in court on all hearing dates unless exempted for valid reasons.
- A prohibition on threatening or tampering with witnesses.
- A ban on engaging in similar offences in the future.
- Submission of residential details, mobile number and email ID to the court.
- A restriction on leaving the court’s jurisdiction without prior permission.
The court also warned that any violation of these conditions would lead to the cancellation of bail.
Also read: Gauri Lankesh: Writer, Fighter, Speaker, Friend
Gauri Lankesh, a prominent journalist and outspoken critic of right-wing ideologies, was shot dead outside her Bengaluru residence in September 2017. The case, which involves numerous witnesses and extensive evidence, has since drawn nationwide attention, with allegations linking the accused to a covert organisation aiming to establish a “Hindu Rashtra.”
