A two-judge bench of the SC modified Madani's bail condition, which had directed him to stay in Bengaluru till the completion of his trial.
Published Jul 17, 2023 | 2:00 PM ⚊ Updated Jul 17, 2023 | 2:00 PM
Abdul Nasar Madani. (Creative Commons)
The Supreme Court on Monday, 17 July, allowed People’s Democratic Party (PDP) chairman Abdul Nasar Madani, a prime accused in the 2008 Bengaluru serial bomb blasts case, to travel to Kerala and stay there for treatment.
A bench of Justices AS Bopanna and MM Sundresh modified Madani’s bail condition, which had directed him to stay in Bengaluru till the completion of his trial.
Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, assisted by Advocate Haris Beeran, appearing for Madani, informed the court that the trial was over and that he did not need to stay in Bengaluru.
“In modification of the order dated 11 July, 2014, we permit the applicant to travel to his hometown in Kerala and stay there,” the bench said.
“However, to ensure that the applicant is adhering to all other requirements, we direct that the appellant will report to the Station House Officer of the nearest police in Kollam district, once in 15 days,” it added.
“He’s in a wheelchair, his leg is amputated, there’s a kidney transplant. His mother died, and now his father is ill. The trial is over, arguments are going on. They themselves say that it’ll take two years for the arguments. There are many accused.” Sibal said during the hearing as reported by LiveLaw.
Madani has been out on bail since 2014 after the Supreme Court granted him relief in view of his poor health. But he was ordered not to leave Bengaluru.
In April 2023, the top court granted him permission to visit Kerala on a plea seeking relaxation of the bail conditions imposed by it. But, his visit was delayed after the Karnataka government sought an “exorbitant” amount for the security of the PDP leader.
At least 12 policemen from the Karnataka Police Department escorted Madani for his safety and security, and the court directed him to bear all their expenses for the trip.
The PDP leader and 31 others were booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for his alleged involvement in a series of bomb blasts on 25 July, 2008, in Bengaluru that left one person dead and 20 injured.
Madani was arrested by a joint team of Karnataka Police and Kerala Police from his residence in Kollam district on 17 August, 2010. He was lodged in the Bengaluru Central Prison after the arrest. He was named accused number 31 in the case.
The PDP leader was also accused in the 1998 serial bomb blasts that rocked Coimbatore ahead of an election meeting to be addressed by senior BJP leader LK Advani, leaving 58 people dead and injuring over 200. He was acquitted in the case by the trial court later.
Madani was arrested by the Kerala Police on 31 March, 1998 and was released on 1 August, 2007, following his acquittal.
He was also accused of attempting to murder RSS ideologue P Parameswaran and Father KK Alavi in 2013. However, he dismissed the claims that he offered money to murder these two people.
The Crime Branch Hurt and Homicide wing of Ernakulam district submitted before the Kerala High Court in 2015 that no evidence could be obtained to substantiate the allegations.
According to the Crime Branch, Parameswaran and Alavi had stated that they had never faced any attempt on their life as alleged in the complaint by Kochi-based lawyer TG Mohandas.
Madani had lost his right leg in an explosive attack on 6 August, 1992. He has been using a prosthetic leg since then.
His wife Soofiya Madani was the 10th accused in the 2005 Kalamassery bus burning case.
(With PTI inputs)
