In a significant development at the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court, Justice Pankaj Bhatia recused himself from the bail plea of Moeed Ahmed, a leader from the Samajwadi Party and accused in the Ayodhya gang rape case. The decision to step down from the case was taken on Thursday, and the matter has been redirected to be heard by a regular bench next week as per directions from the Chief Justice.
Previously, Justice Bhatia had denied Ahmed’s initial bail petition, citing the substantial political influence wielded by the accused and the pronounced socioeconomic disparity between him and the victim’s family. The court had expressed concerns about potential tampering with the trial process, highlighting instances of pressure exerted on the victim and her family to reach a settlement.
Moreover, the court had granted Ahmed the opportunity to reapply for bail following the completion of testimonies from the victim and the complainant. This condition was met recently, prompting the filing of a new bail application by Ahmed’s legal team. They argued that since the key testimonies have been recorded, the accused should be considered for bail.
The backdrop of this case is rooted in a grievous charge from July 29, where Ahmed and another individual, Raju Khan, were accused of the gang rape of a 12-year-old girl in Ayodhya. The crime reportedly occurred near Khan’s bakery, which has since been demolished.
