Court rejects golfer Randhawa’s interim bail plea in poaching case
BAHRAICH: The district court on Monday rejected the interim bail plea of golfer Jyoti Singh Randhawa and former Navy officer Mahesh Birajdar, both of whom were arrested on poaching charges in Motipur Range of Katerniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary in Bahraich on December 26 last year.
The court fixed January 10 as the next date for hearing the duo’s bail application.
A forest department team recovered a hunted red jungle fowl, hide of Sambhar (deer), a .22 telescopic rifle, 80 live cartridges and other poaching equipment from their possession at the time of their arrest. Several cases under various sections of the Wildlife Protection Act, the Indian Forest Act and the Arms Act were registered against the duo and they were sent to 14-day judicial custody. Randhawa and Birajdar have been lodged in the district jail since December 26, 2018. Vinay Garg, a senior lawyer practising in the Supreme Court, argued in favour of Randhawa’s interim bail plea on Monday. Suresh Yadav and other lawyers represented the forest department.
The prosecution cited a ruling of the Allahabad high court, according to which, interim bail was barred in reference to the Wildlife Protection Act. Besides, the prosecution said the autopsy of the jungle fowl, recovered from the duo, confirmed gunshot injury. The prosecution also said Article 48A of the Indian Constitution stated, “The state shall endeavour to protect and improve the environment and to safeguard the forests and wildlife of the country.”
After hearing the arguments, district judge Upendra Kumar rejected the interim bail application. Owing to winter vacations in the district court, Randhawa could not file his bail application immediately after the arrest. The golfer filed his bail plea before the district court through his lawyer Brijpal Singh on January 2. In his bail plea, Randhawa said he represented India as he as an international golfer and was also a recipient of the Arjuna Award. The golfer requested the court to grant him bail, prosecution lawyer Suresh Yadav said.