SC grants bail to accused in murder case of Shiv Sena leader
New Delhi (PTI): The Supreme Court has granted bail to a person accused of hatching a conspiracy to kill a local Shiv Sena leader in Maharashtra in 2020.
A bench comprising justices B R Gavai, C T Ravikumar and Sanjay Kumar took note of the submissions of lawyer Sana Raees Khan, appearing for prime accused Suraj Vijay Agarwal, that other co-accused in the case have been granted bail by the top court.
Rahul Umesh Shetty, who was the former Lonavala unit chief of Shiv Sena, was shot dead in broad daylight on October 26, 2020.
"Taking into consideration the fact that this court has already granted bail to the other co-accused, we are inclined to grant bail to the petitioner...The petitioner is directed to be released on bail in connection with FIR No... registered at P.S. Lonavala City, Pune Rural, to the satisfaction of the trial court," the bench said in its order on Monday.
The bench took note of the vehement opposition to the bail plea of the accused by the counsel representing the Maharashtra Police and the complainant and put additional conditions for grant of bail to the accused.
"However, in addition to the condition to be imposed by the said Court, we direct that the petitioner shall not enter the jurisdiction of the Additional Sessions Judge, Vadgaon, Maval, during the pendency of the trial, unless he is required to attend the concerned Court," the order said while disposing of the bail plea.
The Bombay High Court, on September 29, 2022, had dismissed the bail plea of Agarwal.
"In the totality of the circumstances, the element of criminal conspiracy to eliminate the deceased by hiring contract killers is prima facie made out. The Court cannot lose sight of the fact that the deceased was done to death in broad daylight.
"There is material to show that the deceased apprehended such an untoward occurrence and named the persons who were allegedly after him and, eventually, the worst fears came true," the high court had said.
It had said that the apprehension of the police that the accused may tamper with evidence, in general, and cause harm to the prosecution witnesses, in particular, cannot be said to be unfounded.
It was alleged Agarwal had inimical relations with the deceased on account of political rivalry.
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Unnao rape case: SC sets aside order suspending Sengar's life term, asks HC to decide plea afresh
New Delhi (PTI): The Supreme Court on Friday set aside a Delhi High Court order suspending the life sentence of former BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar in the 2017 Unnao rape case and asked it to decide the plea afresh.
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi also asked the high court to make endeavours to decide the main plea of Sengar against his conviction and life imprisonment in the case within two months.
It further said that if it was not possible for the high court to decide the main plea expeditiously, then it should pass an order on a plea of Sengar seeking the suspension of the life term in the case before the start of the summer vacation there.
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The bench, which had earlier set aside the HC order granting bail to Sengar after a huge public uproar over the issue, said that it did not express any opinion on the merits of the case and the high court could proceed with it afresh.
The CJI also asked the HC to decide afresh issues like whether an MLA can be treated as a public servant for being prosecuted under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
Earlier, the top court had deferred to the first week of May the hearing on a petition filed by the CBI challenging the suspension of life imprisonment of the former MLA in the rape case.
On December 29 last year, the top court stayed the Delhi High Court order suspending Sengar's life sentence and said he shall not be released from custody.
In its order dated December 23, 2025, the Delhi High Court had said that Sengar had been convicted under Section 5 (C) (aggravated penetrative sexual assault by a public servant) of the POCSO Act but an elected representative does not fit the definition of a "public servant" under Section 21 of the Indian Penal Code.
The high court had suspended the jail term of Sengar, who was serving life imprisonment in the Unnao rape case, till the pendency of his appeal, saying he had already served seven years and five months in prison.
The high court order has sparked criticism from various sections of society and protests were held by the victim, her family and activists.
