Allahabad High Court has recently rejected the bail plea of Samajwadi Party MLA Ramakant Yadav in a spurious liquor case where 9 people died in Azamgarh last year.
However, it directed the trial court to conclude the hearing in the case in 6 months.
The high court stated in an order that, “If the trial does not make any substantial progress within a period of 6 months, it will be open for the applicant-accused to apply for bail afresh.”
Justice Raj Beer Singh dismissed the bail plea of Yadav. Yadav stated that he was a 4-time MP and a 5-time MLA and was being falsely implicated because of the political enmity.
The state government’s counsel argued that Yadav’s involvement was revealed during investigations and he was named in the charge-sheet on the basis of sufficient evidence.
The government counsel argued while opposing the bail plea that, “9 people died by consuming spurious liquor, purchased from the licensed shop, which was in the name of co-accused Rangesh Kumar Yadav but its actual control was with the applicant.” The court, while dismissing the bail plea, observed, “In view of the aforesaid facts and considering the submissions of learned counsel for the parties and all attending facts and circumstances of the matter, no case for bail is made out at this stage. Hence, the bail application of applicant Ramakant Yadav is hereby rejected.”
An FIR was registered in February 2022 at Ahraula police station in Azamgarh after 9 people died allegedly after consuming spurious liquor. Though Yadav’s name wasn’t mentioned in the FIR, it was introduced in the case in September 2022.