Sopan Gade of Newasa faced several criminal cases, including a murder case of 2013. His bail plea in the murder case was rejected by trial court and Bombay HC bench at Aurangabad considering his criminal antecedents, absconding during pendency of trial and tactics to delay trial.
On Tuesday, the complainant in the case, which related to murder of advocate Riyaz Pathan, complained before a bench of Justices B R Gavai and K V Viswanathan that days after SC granted bail considering that he has undergone almost a decade of incarceration, the accused roamed around Newasa town in a huge motorcade apparently to terrorise witnesses.
It has happened in the past that politicians accused of serious crimes have celebrated the occasion of being given bail like an acquittal. The apex court has rightly warned against over the top displays on such occasions.
Seeking cancellation of Sopan Gade’s bail, complainant Asif Khan told SC that “On Dec 16 last year, to create his fear among the people, Sopan organised a rally in his four-wheeler accompanied by 100 to 150 four-wheelers and 70 to 80 two-wheelers. It was telecast live on social media. They burst crackers, showered flowers from JCB to felicitate the accused. The motorcade caused a traffic jam on the NH for five to six hours.”
The bench was furious and said it has become a habit with leaders to go around the town with supporters in a rally after getting bail. When Sopan’s counsel said his supporters arranged the rally, the bench said, “You file an apology for going in a motorcade and organising a rally. You also file an undertaking that you will never indulge in any such activities in future.”