The Allahabad High Court has granted bail to 32 people convicted in a 35-year-old caste violence case in Agra, observing that the final hearing of their appeal may take considerable time.
The order, passed on August 28 by Justice Shekhar Kumar Yadav, came while hearing the criminal appeal filed by Jaidev and 31 others. The appellants had been sentenced to five years’ imprisonment by a trial court in Agra on May 28, 2025, for their alleged involvement in caste-based violence that occurred in 1990 under the jurisdiction of Kagaraul police station in Agra district.
Appearing for the convicts, counsel argued that the appellants were falsely implicated in the decades-old case. He pointed out that although the prosecution had examined 27 witnesses, their testimonies contained contradictions which the trial court failed to consider.
It was further submitted that most of the appellants are senior citizens, with many above the age of 65 and suffering from various ailments. The counsel contended that the trial court misread the evidence, resulting in wrongful convictions.
The High Court was also informed that all the accused were on bail during the trial and had never misused the liberty granted to them. They have been in jail since their conviction on May 28, 2025, and given the heavy pendency of cases, there was little possibility of an early hearing of their appeal.
The court took note that one of the appellants, 95-year-old Devi Singh, had already been granted short-term bail on medical grounds on August 4, 2025.
“Keeping in mind that the final disposal of the appeal may take some time, the appellants are to be released on bail without making any comment on the merits of the case,” Justice Yadav observed.
The case dates back to 1990 when caste violence broke out in Kagaraul, Agra. After prolonged trial proceedings, the Additional District and Sessions Court in Agra convicted the accused earlier this year and sentenced them to five years of rigorous imprisonment.
Following the conviction, the accused were taken into custody. With the High Court’s order, they will now be released on bail pending final disposal of their appeal.
