THE GOAN NETWORK
PANAJI
The High Court of Bombay at Goa has granted conditional bail to Manthan Gawade, an accused in an attempted murder case, after eight months of imprisonment.
Gawade was arrested for attacking his former girlfriend at Usgao on February 14. According to the charge sheet, the 22-year-old victim was on her way to work at 7 am when Gawade, angered by her refusal to his proposal, allegedly attempted to strangle her, inflicted knife injuries and smashed a glass bottle over her head.
She was rescued by passers-by and Gawade was arrested by the Ponda police after a 6-8 hour search.
In his bail plea, Gawade claimed that he had been in custody for eight months and pointed at discrepancies in the eyewitness and medical evidence. His counsel, Rohan Desai, further argued that the prosecution’s concerns about tampering with evidence were no longer valid as the victim had already been examined.
Justice Bharat P Deshpande, while granting bail, acknowledged that although Gawade faces charges under Section 307 IPC, the victim’s testimony had already been recorded.
“It is no doubt true that the charge framed against the accused is for the offense punishable under Section 307 of IPC. However, the fact remains that the victim is already examined and the apprehension that was earlier raised by the Prosecution regarding tampering, no longer subsists. The other witnesses are yet to be examined. However, so far as those witnesses are concerned, conditions could be imposed on the Applicant for the purpose of granting bail,” the court order stated.
The order directs Gawade to furnish a personal bond of Rs 25,000 with one solvent surety of the same amount. He is also prohibited from entering Ponda taluka except to attend the trial, must not contact or pressurise the victim or other witnesses, and provide his temporary address within eight days of his release. He is also required to attend the trial regularly and leave Ponda taluka immediately after each court proceeding.
The trial commenced with three witnesses including the victim already examined. The charge sheet indicated that the accused and the victim were in a relationship and a 'dispute/break-up' led to the alleged attack.
