On Tuesday(August 13th), The Supreme Court warned it might cancel Maharashtra politician Sopan Gade’s bail due to a disruptive motorcade celebration in Newasa.
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NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court of India has expressed serious concerns over the increasingly common practice of grand celebrations by politicians and other high-profile individuals upon being granted bail. Such celebrations often result in significant public inconvenience and disrupt law and order. On Tuesday(August 13th), the apex court issued a warning that it could cancel the bail granted to a Maharashtra politician, Sopan Gade, after he organized a large and disruptive motorcade in his hometown of Newasa.
Background of the Case
Sopan Gade, a politician from Newasa, Maharashtra, faces several criminal charges, including involvement in a 2013 murder case. His history of criminal activities and evasion of justice had previously led both the trial court and the Bombay High Court’s Aurangabad bench to deny his bail plea. The courts cited his criminal antecedents, his tendency to abscond during the trial, and various tactics used to delay the judicial process as reasons for their decisions.
However, Gade was eventually granted bail by the Supreme Court, taking into account that he had already spent almost a decade behind bars. The case in question pertains to the murder of advocate Riyaz Pathan, a crime that had shaken the local community and led to widespread calls for justice.
Despite the leniency shown by the Supreme Court, Gade’s actions following his release have brought him back under judicial scrutiny. On Tuesday, the complainant in the case, Asif Khan, approached the Supreme Court bench comprising Justices B. R. Gavai and K. V. Viswanathan. Khan raised concerns about Gade’s behavior following his release on bail, describing how the politician had orchestrated a grand motorcade through Newasa town, presumably to assert his dominance and intimidate witnesses.
According to Khan-
“On December 16 last year, to instill fear among the public, Sopan organized a rally in his four-wheeler, accompanied by 100 to 150 other four-wheelers and 70 to 80 two-wheelers. The event was broadcast live on social media, featuring fireworks and flower showers from a JCB to celebrate the accused. The motorcade caused a traffic jam on the national highway for five to six hours.”
The complainant emphasized the disruptive nature of the celebration, which not only caused significant traffic congestion on the national highway but also sent a clear message of intimidation to the local community. The rally, attended by a large number of supporters, was broadcast live on social media, further amplifying its impact.
The Supreme Court bench did not take these allegations lightly. Expressing its displeasure, the bench remarked on the disturbing trend of politicians and other influential figures using bail as an opportunity to stage grand celebrations, often at the expense of public order. The court warned that such actions could lead to the revocation of bail.
When Gade’s counsel attempted to downplay the incident by claiming that the rally had been organized by his supporters without his direct involvement, the bench responded sharply. The court instructed Gade to take full responsibility for the event and issued a stern warning:
“You must submit an apology for organizing the motorcade and rally, and provide an undertaking that you will not engage in such activities in the future.”
This warning from the Supreme Court serves as a crucial reminder to those who believe they can flout the law with impunity. The court’s stance is clear—such acts of defiance and attempts to manipulate public perception will not be tolerated, especially when they come at the cost of public peace and order.
