The Court Dismisses Fifth Bail Plea of Convicted Religious Leader, Citing Misuse of Legal Process and Non-Cooperation in Appeal Hearing
News Report: In a significant development, the Gujarat High Court has dismissed the fifth consecutive bail application filed by Narayan Sai, a religious leader convicted of serious offenses including rape and unnatural sex. The bench, comprising Justices Ilesh J. Vora and R. T. Vachhani, concluded that there were insufficient grounds to suspend Sai's sentence or grant bail pending appeal. The court highlighted Sai's lack of cooperation in expediting the appeal process and misuse of the legal system as pivotal reasons for the dismissal.
Narayan Sai, son of the controversial religious figure Asharamji, was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2019 for offenses under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including Section 376(2)(c) for rape and Section 377 for unnatural offenses. The petitioner had contended that his incarceration period exceeded 11 years and cited delays in hearing his appeal as grounds for bail.
The court, however, emphasized that the presumption of innocence no longer applies post-conviction and reanalysis of evidence at this stage is impermissible. It held that the long incarceration and alleged delay in the appeal hearing were due to the convict's own delay tactics. The bench pointed out that Sai repeatedly filed applications for bail and failed to demonstrate any change in circumstances since the last dismissal. The court further noted that Sai's conduct reflected a misuse of legal process.
The prosecution successfully argued that the victim's evidence was credible and sufficient for conviction, with the trial court's findings being upheld. The court noted that the delay in lodging the FIR was satisfactorily explained by the victim, attributing it to fear and intimidation due to the accused's influential background.
This decision underscores the judiciary's stance on maintaining the integrity of the legal process and ensuring that legal tactics are not employed to undermine judicial outcomes. The court expressed hope that the appeal hearing would proceed expeditiously, with the next date set for June 12, 2026.
Bottom Line:
Application for suspension of sentence and grant of bail dismissed due to the absence of sufficient grounds, lack of cooperation in expeditious hearing of the appeal, and misuse of legal process by the applicant-convict.
Statutory provision(s): Sections 376(2)(c), 377, 354, 504, 506(2), 508, 323 of the IPC, Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 Section 389.
