2002 Godhra Riots case: Gujarat High Court extends interim bail granted to RB Sreekumar by two months

The Gujarat High Court on Friday extended the interim bail granted to former Director General of Police (DGP) of the State RB Sreekumar, who was arrested in June this year for allegedly fabricating documents related to the 2002 Godhra Riots case [RB Sreekumar v. State of Gujarat]..Justice Ilesh Vora noted the fact that Sreekumar, who allegedly forged documents so as to implicate higher government functionaries in the case, was already out on interim bail since September and has not misused the liberty granted to him. "It is not in dispute that since September 28, the applicant is on interim bail and has not misused his liberty and have duly complied with the bail conditions. In such circumstances, I am inclined to enlarge him on interim bail for a period of two months from today on the same terms and conditions, which were earlier imposed by this Court," the judge said..The Bench was hearing Sreekumar's plea seeking interim bail on health grounds. He highlighted that he is suffering from age-related medical issues, and therefore, he should be enlarged on interim bail for a period of three months, as the hearing of his regular bail application would take considerable time.However, the prosecution opposed the plea, arguing that no case is made out for such relief as he was initially given interim bail for a limited period.Sreekumar was given interim bail in September this year till November 15, and the same was recently extended for 10 days. The interim bail has now been extended for two months..Advocates Yogesh Ravani and Kalpesh Shastri appeared for Sreekumar. Public Prosecutor Mitesh Amin and Additional Public Prosecutor Krina Calla represented the State..Sreekumar and activist Teesta Setalvad were arrested a day after a three-judge Bench of the Supreme Court had made adverse remarks against them on June 24 while dismissing the plea by Zakia Jafri, wife of slain Congress MP Ehsan Jafri, who was killed during the 2002 Gujarat Riots. Jafri had challenged the Gujarat High Court’s decision of 2017 upholding the magistrate's decision to accept the closure report filed by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) in the case.While dismissing the plea, the top court had made certain observations against Setalvad and Sreekumar, terming them "disgruntled".The Court said that there was a coalesced effort by them to create a sensation by making revelations that were false to their own knowledge.Subsequently, Setalvad was arrested by the Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad from Mumbai and taken to Gujarat. Sreekumar was also arrested from Gujarat..[Read order]