Youths granted bail in murder case

Mumbai, Jan 20 (UNI) A local court at Palghar has granted bail to two 18-year-old youths accused of murdering a school teacher from Virar.

The Defence Counsel, Shyam Marvadi, contended before the court that the youths--Pranal Mayor and Anand Dilip Chaudhary -- were subjected to sexual exploitation by the teacher, Hiraji Mayor, from whose house a number of pornographic CDs had been recovered.

In one such incident, on November 18 last year, the boys were summoned to the teacher's residence and pornographic CDs were viewed.

The teacher, thereafter, made sexual advances towards Pranal to which the latter objected. However, the teacher threatened him with a sickle, according to the defence contention. Anand rushed to his friend's help and a scuffle ensued between the teacher and the two students in which the sickle accidentally struck the teacher on the head and he died, according to the defence contention.

Advocate Marvadi contended that the death was a result of self defence and not intentional murder.

Additional district judge Purohit granted bail to the youths upon furnishing personal bonds of Rs 25,000 each.

UNI