SC sets aside bail granted by MP HC to BSP MLA's husband in murder case

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday set aside an order of the Madhya Pradesh High Court and cancelled the bail granted to a BSP MLA's husband in the 2019 murder case of Congress leader Devendra Chaurasia.

A bench of Justices DY Chandrachud and MR Shah was hearing pleas filed by Somesh, son of Chaurasia, and the state government seeking cancellation of bail granted to the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) MLA Rambai Singh's husband Govind Singh.

The bench observed that the HC misapplied legal principles by granting bail to the accused.

There is no gainsaying that the judiciary should be immune to political pressures and considerations, it said.

The top court also directed an inquiry into the apprehension expressed by the Additional Session Judge, who had noted that he was “pressured” by the Damoh SP and his subordinates.

The bench observed that India cannot have two parallel legal systems, one for the rich and resourceful and those who wield political power and the other for “small men” without resources and capabilities to access justice.

"If the faith of citizens in the judiciary is to be preserved, it is the district judiciary on which attention must be focused," the bench asserted.

Singh, who was absconding earlier was arrested on March 28 after the apex court pulled up the state police in a Mach 26 order, in which the court warned the state Director General of Police to arrest the accused or face coercive action.

Fifty-year-old Congress leader Devendra Chaurasia was murdered on March 15, 2019, in Hatta town of Damoh district after he quit BSP to join the then ruling Congress. (UNI)