Accused in 2022 Kanhaiya Lal Murder Case Granted Bail by Rajasthan HC

Mohammad Javed, an accused in the 2022 murder of tailor Kanhaiya Lal in Udaipur, Rajasthan, was granted bail by the Rajasthan High Court on Thursday. Javed had sought bail from the Jaipur bench after being denied by the NIA court. The case has been a point of contention between political parties.

Political Reactions

Former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot accused the BJP of using the case for electoral gain. He stated, "The BJP used this murder case of Udaipur to gain electoral advantage, but the BJP-led central government's NIA did not show any special interest in ensuring punishment for the culprits." Gehlot also mentioned that his government provided Rs 50 lakh as compensation to the victim's family.

BJP leader Rajendra Rathore responded by asserting that their government is committed to punishing those responsible for Kanhaiya Lal's murder. He also criticised Gehlot's administration for its handling of past terrorist cases, saying, "Ashok Gehlot sahab, the BJP government is committed to punishing the culprits of the Kanhaiya Lal murder case. But how are you forgetting that 71 innocent people died in the Jaipur serial bomb blast but the terrorists were acquitted due to poor prosecution in the high court during the previous Congress government? Who was guilty of this then?"

Legal Arguments and Bail Grant

Javed's lawyer, Syed Saadat Ali, argued that his client was arrested based on phone call details and not physical presence at the crime scene. Ali stated that no recovery was made from Javed and his guilt is yet to be established in a trial. Considering these arguments, Justice Pankaj Bhandari granted bail to Javed.

The charges against Javed and others were framed under various IPC sections including 302 (murder), 452 (trespassing), 153-A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion), 295-A (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings), 120-B (criminal conspiracy), and sections of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act.

Incident Details

Kanhaiya Lal was murdered in June 2022 by Mohammad Riyaz and Mohammad Gause at his shop in Udaipur's Hathipole area. The attack was allegedly in response to Lal's support for a social media post against Islam. The incident caused widespread shock across India.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) took over the investigation shortly after the incident. Despite this, Gehlot criticised both state and central governments for not ensuring timely justice. He alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah used the incident during their election campaigns.

Ongoing Investigation

The NIA continues to investigate the case involving 11 accused individuals. Charges have been framed under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code and other relevant laws. The investigation aims to bring all involved parties to justice.

The court's decision has sparked a debate on political and judicial responsibilities in high-profile cases. Both major political parties have used this case to criticise each other's governance and legal strategies.

The public remains attentive as developments unfold in this significant case, which has implications for both justice delivery and political accountability in India.