Overview

• On August 5, the Bombay High Court refused release pending trial to former BJP MLA Ganpat Gaikwad and three co-accused over the February 2024 police station firing in Ulhasnagar.
• The court relied on prima facie evidence from CCTV footage, ballistic analysis and forensic reports to establish charges of attempted murder, unlawful assembly and causing terror within the police station precincts.
• Justice Amit Borkar warned that leniency in bail matters for serious political violence would erode public confidence in law enforcement and the judiciary.
• Co-accused Harshal Kene, Kunal Dilip Patil and Nagesh Deepak Baderao were also denied release for their alleged roles in aiding and obstructing police duties during the assault.
• The trial will proceed under enhanced judicial scrutiny with measures in place to assess and mitigate risks of witness intimidation.