HC slams judge’s order, but doesn’t cancel 2017 bail to rationalist murder accused

Mumbai: Bombay HC dismissed the state’s plea to cancel bail granted by a Kolhapur sessions court in 2017 to Samir Gaikwad, accused in the murder case of rationalist Govind Pansare, and passed strictures against the judge, reports Rosy Sequeira.“The course adopted by the learned sessions judge in entertaining and granting bail despite rejection of his earlier application by this court on merits, amounts to grave indiscretion, which impinges upon judicial discipline and propriety,” said Justice Anuja Prabhudessai on Jan 10. Prosecutor Prajakta Shinde had argued that despite two rejections by the same sessions court and even HC, the court granted him bail when there was no change in circumstance.