Mumbai, Aug 3 A special court here on Monday permitted a 27-year-old accused in the Baba Siddique murder case to attend his great-grandmother's post-funeral rites for a day under strict police escort.
Accused Dilip Paradhi had sought temporary bail from August 8 to August 16 citing humanitarian grounds following the death of his 103-year-old great-grandmother on July 28.
He had claimed his presence was indispensable for post-funeral ceremonies as per Adivasi community customs, adding he was the only male member of the family available to perform the necessary rites.
The prosecution, represented by special public prosecutor Mahesh Mule, opposed the plea, highlighting Paradhi's criminal antecedents.
The prosecution raised alarm over a recent incident in which a witness was fired upon during the pendency of the current case.
There was significant risk that Paradhi might abscond, influence, or intimidate witnesses if released, the prosecution said.
Special Judge for MCOCA cases, Satyanarayan Navander, after hearing both sides, denied Paradhi interim bail but granted him single-day visit under strict police escort on August 9 to attend the ceremony at Vangani-Kulgaon in Ambernath.
The court pointed out that the accused claimed he is the only male member in the family to perform the rites.
"However, during the course of hearing it has transpired that the applicant has a real cousin brother who is also capable of performing the said rites," the court noted.
The judge asserted that the court was not "insensitive to the emotional bond which may exist between a great-grandmother and her great-grandson" and said humanitarian considerations deserve due weight even in serious criminal prosecutions.
"At the same time, such considerations must be balanced against the gravity of the accusations, the criminal antecedents of the applicant, the stage of the trial and the likelihood of misuse of liberty," the court said.
Paradhi failed to provide specific details regarding the tribal customs that required his continuous eight-day presence, the court further said.
Siddique, NCP leader and former Maharashtra minister, was shot dead by three assailants outside his son Zeeshan's office in Mumbai's Bandra East area on the night of October 12, 2024.
A total of 27 persons have been charged under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) for murder and other offences.
