Blast convict gets bail as appeal remains pending for 12 years
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Twelve years after he was arrested on charges of triggering a blast here, the Bombay high court has granted Sahid Khalil Ansari bail on the ground that a co-accused was enlarged and his appeal against conviction may take some time to come up for final hearing.
The bail was granted recently by a bench headed by Justice Ajay Khanvilkar who held that Sahid was similarly placed as co-accused Mohammed Yakub Abdul Majid, who was enlarged in the same case.
Defence lawyer Amin Solkar said Sahid was convicted on the basis of a sole eyewitness who had seen him and another accused coming out from the masjid after the blast on August 28, 1997. He said Sahid could not get an opportunity to cross examine this witness during the trial.
However, the bench said it would grant bail to Sahid on the ground of parity as co-accused Mohammed Majid had been enlarged. Also, it said that Sahid's appeal may take some time to be decided.
Accordingly, Sahid was released on bail at a sum of Rs 15,000 with one solvent surety in the like amount. He was also asked to report to nearest police station at Vakola every day until his appeal came up for hearing.
The court, however, warned that if he failed to report to the police station on more than two occasions for any reason whatsoever then his bail shall be cancelled.
Sahid was also directed not to leave the limits of the city without the permission of the court until his appeal was decided.
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