Bombay HC grants bail to Ramabai convict

The Bombay High Court granted bail to police officer Manohar Kadam, sentenced to life imprisonment by a Sessions Court in the infamous Ramabai firing case of 1997.

A vacation bench of Justices A V Nirgude and Rajesh Ketkar while granting bail to Kadam directed him to produce a personal bond of Rs 50,000.

They also directed him not to tamper with the evidences available against him.

The police officer was convicted by a sessions court on May seven last for ordering his platoon to fire several rounds on a group of Dalits protesting against the desecration of Dr B R Ambedkar’s statue on July,11 1997. In his bail plea he had argued that he was on bail during the trial and therefore he should be granted the same now.

The court granted plea after examining whether the mob posed a threat to convicted police officer Manohar Kadam, his platoon, or the public during the incident.

The incident had claimed the lives of 10 and left 26 of the rioting Dalits injured at Mata Ramabai Ambedkar Nagar in city’s Ghatkopar area.

Maharashtra government had appointed a Commission under Justice S D Gundewar in November 1997, which after inquiry had indicted Kadam for firing indiscriminately at the mob.

Following this, the state sanctioned Kadam’s prosecution in August 2001 and an FIR was lodged against him with the Pantnagar police station on August 30 that year.