Bombay High Court allows meanwhile protection to MLA Nitesh Rane in attempt to murder case

The Bombay high court today postponed the hearing on the anticipatory bail plea of the MLA Nitesh Rane in an attempt-to-murder case filed against him in Sindhudurg district till January 7.

Police on Tuesday orally assured the Bombay High Court that it would not take any coercive action till Friday against MLA Nitesh Rane.

Justice C V Bhadang, who was hearing Rane’s anticipatory bail plea, was told by Special Public Prosecutor Sudeep Pasbola that Rane was the “mastermind” in the case. The prosecutor sought time to file an affidavit in reply to the bail plea. He also said the accused in the case were influencing witnesses.

Advocate Niteen Pradhan appearing for Rane, submitted that he has been cooperating with the investigation and had even appeared for the recording of statement as and when called upon.

He submitted that two days after Rane had already appeared for interrogation, he was informed about the possibility of his arrest.

After this, he approached the Sindhudurg District Court with a plea for pre-arrest bail, which was rejected by the court.

The Sindhudurg sessions court judge rejected Rane’s argument that his custodial investigation was not required because the weapons and the vehicle, an Innova without a number plate, used in the crime had been recovered from another accused. The judge accepted the prosecution’s contention that Rane needed to be quizzed in custody to recover mobile phones of the accused and a vanity van where Rane and his co-accused had met.

Mr. Nitesh Rane has been incommunicado for several days and police teams have been formed to trace and arrest him. He has been charged under Sections 307 (attempt to murder) and 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code.

Finally, The Bench posted the matter for hearing on January 7, and the Special Public Prosecutor gave an oral statement that no coercive action will be taken against Mr. Rane.

Justice Bhadang granted leave to the State to file a reply. The state undertook to serve a copy of the same to Rane by Wednesday.

The matter will be heard again on Friday.