Bombay HC denies bail in lynching case, says only law can punish offenders

Mumbai The Bombay High Court on October 28 refused bail to Sharad Digambar Gorane in a lynching case in which a group attacked a man inside his house and killed him. The court observed that a person’s antecedents do not give a group the authority to punish him or enforce justice through mob violence. Justice Milind Jadhav passed the order on a bail application filed by Mr. Gorane. According to the order, Mr.

Gorane was part of a group of 15 family members who attacked the victim over a rivalry. The man sustained 38 injuries in the assault, which took place inside his house. The group allegedly used rods, sticks and knives during the attack. The order states that Mr. Gorane instructed the group to attack the man to “teach him a life lesson” and asked its members to set the house on fire.

It further records that Mr. Gorane attacked the victim with an axe and threatened neighbours who attempted to rescue him. The victim’s family members were also threatened when they tried to intervene.