The Bombay High Court has rejected the pre-arrest bail application of Akash Avhad, accused of attacking a 71-year-old man on a train over suspicions of carrying beef. Justice R N Laddha, presiding over the case, emphasized the necessity of custodial interrogation citing that the investigation is still in its early stages.
The incident occurred on August 28 aboard the Dhule-CSMT express train when the senior citizen was preparing to disembark at Kalyan station. Allegedly, Avhad and several others obstructed the man, accusing him of possessing beef. Despite the victim’s assertions that he carried buffalo meat—which is not prohibited—the group reportedly began to physically and verbally assault him.
Justice Laddha’s ruling highlighted that the victim was “mercilessly assaulted” by five to six individuals, including Avhad, who also purportedly recorded the attack on his mobile phone. “The investigation is at a nascent stage. Thus, to facilitate further investigation, custodial interrogation of the applicant would be necessary,” the order stated.
The court also recognized the serious nature of the charges against Avhad, which include intentionally hurting religious feelings and causing grievous bodily harm. Given these considerations, granting pre-arrest bail could potentially compromise the effectiveness of the ongoing investigation.
