NCP’s Jitendra Awhad gets pre-arrest bail in attack on civic official

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No prima facie evidence of criminal conspiracy with other accused, court says, adds that custodial interrogation of the MLA not needed

First India Bureau Thane: A local court has granted NCP leader and former minister Jitendra Awhad pre-arrest bail in a case involving an assalt on Assistant Municipal Commissioner Mahesh Aher of the Thane Municipal Corporation.

In addition to Awhad, Additional sessions judge AS Bhagwat on

Friday also granted prearrest bail to some NCP workers who are also named in the case.

Aher was allegedly beaten up by NCP workers on February 15 after an audio clip of him purportedly issuing threats was shared widely on social media.

The Naupada police had booked the MLA and six others under sections 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 307 (attempt to murder) and other relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code and Arms Act.

Awhad, in his application, stated that he has been falsely implicated in the case and there was no prima facie case against him.

Opposing the plea, the prosecution argued that if the applicant is granted bail, the investigation will be hampered, and his custodial interrogation is required for due investigation.

After hearing both sides, the judge noted that the other accused in the case had assaulted the civic official claiming that the NCP leader had sent them and had threatened to shoot him.

It is the complainant’s contention that the ap- plicant had directed the other accused to kill him, the court said. There was no evidence of criminal conspiracy between the other accused and Awhad to kill the complainant on the face of record of the case, it said, adding that the custodial interrogation of the MLA for further investigation was not necessary.