The Supreme Court cancelled the bail it had granted to former Jharkhand Minister Yogendra Sao. Former Jharkhand minister Yogendra Sao and his wife Nirmala Devi, are accused in a rioting case of 2016. They were granted bail by the Apex Court in December 2017 and had imposed a condition that they shall stay in Bhopal and not enter Jharkhand except for attending the court proceedings.
The prosecution later approached the court alleging that these conditions have been breached and Sao had been leaving Bhopal unauthorizedly and entering Jharkhand. Taking note of the details submitted by the prosecution including call details, the bench comprising Justice SA Bobde, S. Abdul Nazeer and Justice Indira Banerjee observed that there are several instances when his absence at Bhopal and presence in Jharkhand is unexplained and is obviously unauthorized. The court also noted that he has been absent before the Trial court on several dates meant for framing charges.
It said: His presence in Jharkhand appears to be undisputed in view of the fact that there are several details, including PNR Nos. showing that he has travelled to Jharkhand along with dates on which he is supposed to have reached Jharkhand. There are mobile call details which show that he called from his cell phone No. before transit at a particular airport and after transit at the destination. Though there are some instances when Yogendra Sao @ Yogendra Saw seems to have travelled because of hearing of the case at Jharkhand, there are several instances when his absence at Bhopal and presence in Jharkhand is unexplained and is obviously unauthorized."
The bench then cancelled the bail. However, it refused prosecution's plea to cancel Nirmala Devi's bai. The court has also directed that all the criminal cases pending against Sao and Nirmala Devi in the State of Jharkhand shall be consolidated and conducted in the Court designated by the District Judge, Ranchi. This will also facilitate witness protection, the court said.
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