Accused granted anticipatory bail in derogatory passage on Tukaram

Mumbai, Mar 24 (UNI) Bombay High Court today granted anticipatory bail to Kunda Pednekar, the professor who had set the Marathi language question paper for HSC board exam (standard 12) containing the alleged derogatory passage on poet Saint Tukaram, stating that the accused's custodial interrogation was not required.

While giving the direction Justice V M Kanade held that the usage of derogatory passage on Tukaram was an offence, but the accused Kunda Pednekar's custodial interrogation was not required.

Public Prosecutor Mankunwar Deshmukh contended that the passage was not part of Tukaram's literature. Also, the passage was taken from Navneet Marathi Sulabh Nibandh which had been written by Ms Adalja Desai, who is now 85 years old, in 1976. This book was not part of the list of books subscribed by the board for setting of the papers therefore it was breach of the board's rules as well.

Justice Kanade did not disclose the date on which the accused would have to attend the interrogation by the investigating officer, but asked her to be available when called by the investigating officials.

Ms Pednekar has been teaching at the Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan's Hazarimal Somani College in Mumbai since last 27 years. And that she was a part of the team of five paper-setters who have been accused in this case. A member of the Marathi Seva Sangh had registered a complaint at a Pune police station under Section 505 of Indian Penal Code (making/publishing statement likely to incite iolence/mischief). This had sparked protests and created chaos in some places across the state.

UNI XR-ARM KU LR KN2158