Rajasthan High Court Denies Bail Application of Independent Candidate Naresh Meena
Click to start listening
Synopsis
The Rajasthan High Court has rejected the bail plea of Independent candidate Naresh Meena, who is in judicial custody for slapping SDM Amit Chaudhary during the Deoli-Uniyara Assembly by-election. The court highlighted concerns about public representatives setting negative precedents.
Key Takeaways
- Rajasthan High Court denies Naresh Meena bail.
- Meena charged with assaulting an SDM.
- Government argues bail could set a negative precedent.
- Case linked to the Deoli-Uniyara Assembly by-election.
- Earlier bail granted in a separate case.
Jaipur, March 19 (NationPress) The Rajasthan High Court on Wednesday denied the bail application of Independent candidate Naresh Meena, who is currently in judicial custody for assaulting Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Amit Chaudhary during the Deoli-Uniyara Assembly by-election.
During the court proceedings, the Rajasthan government contested Meena's bail, asserting that such actions by a public official create a negative precedent in society.
In opposition, Meena's attorney minimized the incident, labeling it as a minor offense and argued for his release on bail.
However, after considering both arguments, Judge Anil Kumar Upvan rejected the bail request.
The case was originally slated for discussion on March 12 but was postponed due to the judge's packed schedule.
A new date was arranged for March 19, but ultimately the court decided against granting bail.
Advocate Lakhan Singh Meena noted that the delays were attributed to the judge's busy calendar.
The Deoli-Uniyara by-election took place on November 13, 2024.
Residents from Samravata village opted to boycott the election, insisting on their village's inclusion in the Uniara sub-division office.
In solidarity with their protests, Naresh Meena joined the villagers in their demonstration.
However, tensions heightened when Meena alleged that SDM Amit Chaudhary had forcibly facilitated votes for three individuals.
During a heated confrontation, Meena reportedly struck the SDM.
The following day, on November 14, 2024, police apprehended Naresh Meena at the protest venue.
With his bail now denied, Meena will remain in judicial custody as the case progresses.
Previously, on February 18, the Rajasthan High Court had granted bail to Naresh Meena regarding last year's Assembly bypoll for the Deoli-Uniyara constituency, linked to protesting and inciting a crowd outside the residence of former Minister Pramod Jain Bhaya.
Justice Sudesh Bansal's bench approved his bail plea. However, despite being granted bail in the mob incitement case, Naresh Meena was not released from jail as the Rajasthan High Court had rejected his bail plea on February 14 related to the violence in Samravata village.
He was arrested for the incident involving the SDM, for which a separate bail hearing is scheduled for Tuesday.
During this hearing, the prosecution referenced a prior High Court ruling that denied Naresh Meena's bail in the Samravata case, arguing he poses a criminal risk and should not be released.
Nonetheless, the court dismissed this claim, indicating that each case has unique circumstances and facts.
The incident dates back to September 2023 when Naresh Meena was accused of leading a protest outside Bhaya's residence and inciting the crowd. Despite the allegations, police did not arrest him for nearly one and a half years. However, following his anticipatory bail plea, the police arrested him on February 3.
Naresh Meena's lawyer, Mahesh Sharma, contended that the case is politically motivated, with accusations primarily based on claims of inciting public disorder.
