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Synopsis

The Bombay High Court has rejected the discharge plea of 73-year-old Satyanarayan Rani, who is allegedly a Naxal leader involved in the Gadchiroli IED blast case in which 15 police personnel lost their lives.

The division bench of the high court, comprising Justice Bharathi Dangre and Justice Manjusha Deshpande, pronounced the order today.

Rani was arrested in a case registered after an IED blast took place in 2019 in a vehicle carrying 15 police personnel of Maharashtra’s Quick Response Team.

Rani was granted bail in July 2022. However, she later filed a petition seeking her discharge from the case, claiming that no evidence was available against her.

Along with others, Rani was booked under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act and the Weapons of Mass Destruction Delivery Systems (Prohibition of Unlawful Activities) Act.

Advocate Yug Mohit Chaudhry, appearing for Rani, contended that there was no evidence against her. He added that out of the chargesheets filed, Rani was not named in any of them.

He argued that the NIA handed over certain documents across the bar before the trial court without following due procedure.

Advocate Aruna Rai, appearing for the NIA, opposed the application seeking discharge and submitted that the trial court had appropriately granted a fair hearing to the defence when the additional documents were filed.

A detailed copy of the order is awaited.