Court cancels bail for Aman Kachru ragging accused

SHIMLA - The Himachal Pradesh High Court Wednesday cancelled bail given by a trial court to four medical college students accused of ragging to death first year student Aman Kachru last year.

It also directed the accused to surrender in the fast track court at Dharamsala in Kangra district Thursday by 10 a.m.

The order was delivered by Justice D.D. Sud who had asked the government why their bail should not be cancelled. He took suo motu cognisance of the bail granted to the accused by the trial court.

The bench allowed the accused to surrender after accepting the plea of their counsel. It had earlier ordered the four be arrested immediately.

“The trial court has been directed to conduct day-to-day hearing and there should be a speedy trial and no unnecessary adjournments,” Justice Sud observed.

The fast track court of Dharamsala had granted bail to Ajay Verma, Naveen Verma, Abhinav Verma and Mukul Sharma July 17 after 16 months of custody.

Advocate General R.K. Bawa, who represented the government, said the bail was granted to the accused in the middle of the case and it should not have been granted as there were chances that the accused could tamper with the evidence.

“The granting of the bail was against law,” he said.

Kachru, 19, died March 8, 2009, a few hours after being allegedly ragged by the four final-year students of the Rajendra Prasad Medical College in Tanda town in Kangra.

The fast track court has listed the matter for hearing Aug 2.

The court has so far recorded the statement of 26 witnesses; only the statements of some doctors and police personnel are to be recorded.