No leniency to mobs burning public property

Nagpur: Expressing deep concern over burning of public property by unruly mobs and subsequent loses to the exchequer, the Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court turned down Maharashtra government’s move to withdraw cases against 10 persons who were granted anticipatory bail by the Amravati Sessions Court.
They were accused of damaging and burning the public property, including a bus and fire brigade van worth Rs50 lakh, on August 25 last year.
“It’s absolutely clear from the papers that for no reason, the unruly mob took law into their hands and set on fire public property. Withdrawing the cases against such persons, would tantamount to giving premium over the acts of unruly assembly in burning public property, which should not be allowed. There is no end to the increasing trend in finding fun and enjoyment in burning public properties and causing loss to public purse,” Justice Arun Chaudhari observed.
While rejecting the move to withdraw the cases challenging cancellation of bail to 10 accused, the court posted them for hearing on Saturday, as last chance, with a warning that no further adjournments would be granted.
According to APP Sanjay Doifode, a Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) bus running between Morshi and Buldhana met with an accident on August 25 last year where it crushed a schoolboy. Subsequently, about 500-600 people made an unlawful assembly and instigated the villagers to obstruct police personnel.
The mob then set ablaze the bus and the fire brigade, and also damaged police jeep, thus causing huge losses to the exchequer of around Rs50 lakhs.
There were allegations that four rubber bullets and three tear smoke grenades were stolen from the spot along with some mobile handsets. The police station registered offences against some members of the mob and started investigations. However, ten members from the mob filed anticipatory bail pleas at Amravati court which was granted on September 19 last year.
They were Atul Rayate, Sanjay Nagone, Pravin Manohar, Narendra Khasbage, Umesh Bijwe, Ganesh Kamble, Surendra and Vijay Sapkal, Kailash Thakare, and Dinesh Kamble.
The police challenged this order by filing three criminal applications in Nagpur bench, which issued show cause notices to all ten respondents on December 14. However, Doifode, submitted a letter of Law and Judiciary Department’s joint secretary of January 21, asking him to withdraw cases challenging session court orders.
“This letter does not show even a single reason as to why such a move to withdraw these applications has been taken by the government, particularly when public property, namely, MSRTC bus and fire brigade vehicle were set on fire,” Justice Chaudhari stated turning down the government’s proposal.
WHAT THE HC SAID
* For no reason, unruly mob took law into its hands
* It set on fire public property worth Rs50 lakhs
* It included bus, fire brigade van & police jeep
* Withdrawing cases to encourage such activities
* Fixed hearing on Saturday, as last chance
* No adjournments to be granted at any cost