Mumbai: In the aftermath of the Mira Road violence, 20 individuals arrested for their alleged involvement remain behind bars, enduring months of imprisonment without bail. Their families, burdened with anxiety and financial strain, have been making desperate efforts to secure their release. Despite continuous attempts by defence lawyers, courts have not yet granted relief. On October 11, the bail plea for three of the accused, Mohammad Irfan Raees Shaikh, Arshad Raees Ahmed Farooqi, and Khan Adil Hasnain was rejected by Thane Sessions Court.
Advocate Mohsin Shaikh had filed the plea, arguing that there was no concrete evidence tying the accused to the violence. However, Judge Bhagwat accepted the arguments presented by Special Public Prosecutor Mahatre, citing concerns about public disorder during the festival season if bail were granted.
This ruling adds to the mounting challenges for the defence team. Earlier, only one accused had been granted bail by Judge Deshpande, who was initially handling the case. For the remaining detainees, including the three whose bail was recently denied, it was the first formal attempt to seek bail since their arrest nearly nine months ago. The defence’s efforts to expose inconsistencies in the investigation were overlooked, as the court deferred to the prosecutor’s narrative.
With the bail pleas rejected in the Sessions Court, the defence team has escalated the matter to the Bombay High Court, where they have filed applications for 17 other accused. A hearing is scheduled for October 15.
Locals are raising uncomfortable questions about selective arrests and the police’s approach. Prominent political figures, including MLA Nitesh Rane and Geeta Jain, who allegedly incited the mob that vandalized Muslim-owned shops, have yet to face any legal consequences, despite multiple witnesses and video evidence pointing to their involvement.
The fact that only individuals from one community were arrested has deepened the community’s concerns about the fairness of the investigation.
