Why Did Tripura HC Order an Inquiry into Bail Granted to Six Murder Accused?

Agartala, Aug 7 (NationPress) The Tripura High Court has instructed the Registrar Judicial to initiate an investigation regarding the bail granted to six individuals accused of murder by the Additional District and Sessions Court in Belonia, located in south Tripura district. This decision comes despite the high court having previously denied their bail request, as explained by a senior legal professional on Thursday.

Justice Biswajit Palit of the high court has also issued notices to the six accused, ordering them to clarify why their bail should not be annulled.

The six individuals are allegedly linked to the murder of Badal Shil, who was a leader of the opposition CPI (M). Shil was a candidate for the CPI (M) in the upcoming South Tripura Zilla Parishad elections set for 2024. He was reportedly assaulted by a group in the Chottakhola region of South Tripura on July 12 last year.

He ultimately died from his injuries the following day while receiving treatment at the Agartala Government Medical College and GBP Hospital. Following an FIR filed by the victim’s daughter, police detained seven suspects in connection with Shil's murder.

Police have submitted the charge sheet against the seven accused to the additional district and sessions court in Belonia. Defense attorney Purushottam Roy Barman stated that after the charge sheet was presented, all seven accused sought bail from the sessions court. However, due to the serious nature of the case and the evidence against them, their bail applications were denied.

Subsequently, six of the accused appealed to the high court for bail, contesting the sessions court's refusal.

According to Roy Barman, High Court Justice Palit rejected their bail pleas in March, emphasizing that the evidence against them was compelling and they could potentially intimidate 22 witnesses.

After the high court denied bail, the six accused submitted another request for bail to the sessions court, as the trial had commenced. The sessions court granted them bail on July 25, as reported by Roy Barman.

Following this, the senior lawyer approached the High Court again, asserting that the additional district and sessions court's decision to grant bail violated the high court's prior ruling. He argued that allowing bail for individuals facing serious murder allegations undermines the integrity of the judicial system.

After hearing the arguments, Justice Palit requested the Registrar Judicial to investigate the situation further and issued notices to the six accused, demanding their explanation for why their bail should not be revoked.

The CPI (M) and the Congress have organized numerous protests against the violence and murder of the 51-year-old Left leader in the lead-up to the elections for the three-tier Gram Panchayats scheduled on August 8, 2024.