SUPREME COURT GRANTS INTERIM BAIL TO ACCUSED IN 2019 GADCHIROLI NAXAL AMBUSH THAT CLAIMED 15 POLICEMEN'S LIVES:

The Supreme Court on Monday granted interim bail to Kailash Ramchandani, an alleged Naxal sympathiser accused in the high-profile 2019 IED blast case in Gadchiroli, Maharashtra, which resulted in the killing of 15 police personnel. The interim relief was granted by a Bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi, notwithstanding strong opposition from the National Investigation Agency (NIA), which has alleged that Ramchandani played a direct and active role in the attack.

While allowing the interim bail, the Court took into consideration the fact that Ramchandani has remained in custody since his arrest on June 29, 2019. The Bench noted that despite the passage of nearly six years, the trial has not progressed substantially, with charges yet to be framed in the case. The Court also considered the argument that similarly placed co-accused had already been granted bail, thereby raising concerns of parity and prolonged incarceration without conclusion of trial.

The interim bail has been made subject to stringent conditions aimed at preventing any misuse of liberty. The Court directed that Ramchandani must remain at his native place in Gadchiroli and shall not leave the district without prior permission from the special NIA court. He has been permitted to travel outside Gadchiroli only for the limited purpose of attending trial proceedings before the special NIA court in Mumbai. In addition, he is required to report to the local police station once every week, furnish his mobile phone number to the authorities, and cooperate fully with the trial by not seeking unnecessary adjournments. The Bench further clarified that any attempt by the accused to establish contact with Naxal elements or violation of the bail conditions would entitle the NIA to seek cancellation of the interim bail.

Ramchandani had approached the Supreme Court challenging a Bombay High Court order dated March 5, 2024, which had rejected his bail application. Before the apex court, he argued that his continued detention since 2019 amounted to unjustified deprivation of liberty, particularly in light of the fact that the trial had not meaningfully commenced and several co-accused had been enlarged on bail.

The NIA, represented by Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, strongly opposed the grant of bail, contending that Ramchandani had a pivotal role in the conspiracy. According to the prosecution, the IED blast was executed based on intelligence inputs allegedly provided by the accused regarding the movement of police personnel. The NIA further submitted that the case was being heard by a special court and that several crucial witnesses were yet to be examined, making the grant of bail premature and potentially detrimental to the prosecution.

However, the Supreme Court underscored the broader systemic issue of delays in trials under special statutes. The Bench recalled its earlier observations criticising both the Union government and the Maharashtra government for failing to establish adequate special courts with the necessary infrastructure to ensure expeditious trials under the NIA Act and other special laws. The Court had previously warned that persistent delays would leave the judiciary with no option but to grant bail, as prolonged incarceration without timely trial offends constitutional guarantees of personal liberty.

The Bench also referred to its earlier order dated March 17, 2025, wherein Ramchandani’s bail plea on the ground of delay had been rejected, while simultaneously granting the Centre and the State a final opportunity to set up functional special courts. In the absence of effective steps by the authorities, the Court had indicated that the accused’s plea for relief would merit reconsideration, a position that ultimately weighed in favour of granting interim bail in the present proceedings.