Hearing on Gawli's anticipatory bail plea adjourned

Mumbai, Mar 03: A Sessions Court, which took up the bail application of gangster-turned-politician Arun Gawli in an extortion case afresh on the directives of the Bombay High Court, adjourned the hearing till March 13.

Gwali's counsel Sanjay Mahajan told the court that they have challenged the Bombay High Court order in Supreme Court following which Sessions Judge S P Davare adjourned the matter to March 13.

The High court had last week cancelled the anticipatory bail granted to Gawli by a Sessions Court, but had stayed its operation till it was decided afresh by another court.

Setting aside the order of Additional Sessions Judge Abhay Thipsay granting anticipatory bail to Gawli in December last year, High Court Judge V M Kanade had accepted the prosecution's submission that custodial interrogation of the accused was justified, considering the gravity of the case.

The court, however, directed the Principal City, Civil and Sessions Judge to assign the matter to another judge who will hear the bail plea afresh. Till then, the anticipatory bail to Gawli will continue.

Additional Government Pleader Satish Borulkar had told the High Court that Judge Thipsay, while passing order, had not given a patient hearing to the prosecution.

In view of the High Court directive, Pricipal Judge R R Vachha had assigned the matter to Sessions Judge S P Daware.

UNI