K’taka HC grants conditional bail to Puneeth Kerehalli, four others in Idrees Pasha Murder case
Bengaluru: In a recent update, the Karnataka High Court has granted conditional bail to Puneeth Kerehalli and four other individuals involved in the murder case of Idrees Pasha, a cattle transporter. The accused, who had been evading arrest, were apprehended in Rajasthan on April 5. The bail order was issued by Justice MG Uma, who presided over a vacation bench and considered three separate petitions submitted by the defendants.
Puneeth Kerehalli and his co-accused were charged by the Ramanagara police for their alleged participation in the murder of Idrees Pasha. The charges against them include Sections 302 (Murder), 341 (Wrongful Restraint), and 504 (Intentional Insult with Intent to Provoke Breach of the Peace) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), based on a complaint lodged by Pasha's family members.
The tragic incident occurred when Idrees Pasha and his two associates were intercepted by cow vigilantes in Sathanur village, of Ramanagara district. Idrees Pasha lost his life during the incident, purportedly at the hands of Hindutva extremists. Furthermore, one of his companions suffered physical assault.
During the court proceedings, Advocate Arun Shyam, representing the petitioner, highlighted that the post-mortem examination of Idrees Pasha's body revealed only minor scratches, with no significant injuries reported. The advocate argued that crucial information regarding the location of the deceased's body, approximately 100 meters away from the Sathanur police station, should have been communicated to the police at an earlier stage.
Compelling videos shared on social media allegedly show Puneeth Kerehalli engaging in "cow vigilante" activities, employing a stun gun to inflict pain. Burn marks were also discovered on Idrees Pasha's body. Puneeth Kerehalli has been photographed alongside prominent leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Karnataka. The First Information Report (FIR) indicates that Pasha possessed valid documentation confirming the legality of the cattle he was transporting from the local market. Nevertheless, Puneeth and his associates allegedly continued to intimidate him, demanding a ransom of Rs 2 lakh for his release, while issuing threats to his life if the demanded amount was not paid.
The conditional bail granted by the Karnataka High Court to Puneeth Kerehalli and the four co-accused marks a significant development in the ongoing case. The court proceedings will persist, and further investigations will be conducted to ascertain all relevant details and gather additional evidence. The outcome of this case will be closely monitored, as it holds implications for justice and the efforts to address vigilantism in the state.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Two more Hindu priests arrested in Bangladesh: ISKCON Kolkata
Kolkata, Nov 30: Two more Hindu priests were arrested in Bangladesh, ISKCON Kolkata spokesperson Radharamn Das claimed on Saturday.
Speaking to PTI, Radharamn said, "I have received information that two more ISKCON monks have been arrested by police in Bangladesh."
In a post on X on Friday night, Radharamn said, "In the meantime, bad news has come: two devotees who went with prasad for Chinmaya Prabhu were arrested on their way back to the temple, and Chinmaya prabhu's secretary is also missing. Please pray for them."
Earlier on Friday, Radharamn had posted, "Another Brahmachari, Sri Shyam Das Prabhu, was arrested by Chattogram Police today."
"Does he look like a terrorist? #FreeISKCONMonks Bangladesh. The arrest of innocent #ISKCON brahmacharis are deeply shocking & disturbing," Radharamn posted on X on Saturday. His comments comes comes in the backdrop of unconfirmed reports of arrest of three more ISKCON monks, days after the arrest of spiritual leader Chinmay Das.
Chinmay Das, who also served as a spokesperson for Bangladesh Sammilita Sanatani Jagran Jote, was arrested at Dhaka's Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Monday while en route to Chattogram to attend a rally. He was denied bail and sent to jail on Tuesday by the Chattogram Sixth Metropolitan Magistrate Court.
Historically, Hindus made up approximately 22 per cent of Bangladesh's population during the 1971 Liberation War.
The Hindu population, once a substantial demographic in Bangladesh, has experienced a significant decline in recent decades, with the minority community now comprising only around 8 per cent of the country's total population.
This drop is largely attributed to a combination of socio-political marginalisation, exodus and sporadic violence over the years.
In the meantime, bad news has come: two devotees who went with prasad for Chinmaya Prabhu were arrested on their way back to the temple, and Chinmaya prabhu's secretary is also missing. Please pray for them. #Bangladesh #ISKCON pic.twitter.com/NLX8hNZmpN
— Radharamn Das राधारमण दास (@RadharamnDas) November 29, 2024
Does he look like a terrorist?#FreeISKCONMonks Bangladesh. The arrest of innocent #ISKCON brahmacharis are deeply shocking & disturbing. pic.twitter.com/VG6u7jlnXB
— Radharamn Das राधारमण दास (@RadharamnDas) November 30, 2024
