The Bombay High Court has granted temporary bail for four days to a convict serving life term to enable him to perform “kanyadaan” ritual at his daughter’s marriage in Nashik this week.
Justices S V Bhadang and A S Gadkari ruled in their recent order that Ashok Khalse, undergoing life imprisonment in Nashik Central prison, may be sent home with police escort after furnishing a surety bond of Rs 15,000 with one or two sureties of the like amount.
In his petition sent from jail by post, Khalse had requested furlough leave to attend his daughter’s marriage at Malegaon camp in Nashik.
Rohini Dandekar, amicus curiae, appointed from the legal aid panel, urged for temporary bail on behalf of the prisoner.
Arfan Sait, additional public prosecutor, produced a report of Panchavati police station in Nashik for perusal of the court. The report confirmed that the marriage of Khalse’s daughter was to be held in Nashik this week.
The prosecutor submitted that in view of the provisions of Maharashtra Furlough and Parole Leave Rules, the petitioner is not entitled for furlough leave before the expiry of six months of sentence.
He also pointed out that the High Court had already rejected Khalse’s appeal against conviction and confirmed life sentence awarded to him by the lower court.
“However, taking into consideration the fact that the marriage of the daughter of the petitioner is scheduled and the petitioner’s presence is required for performing the religious ceremony of ‘kanyadaan’, we are inclined to release the petitioner on temporary bail for a period of four days,” the judges said.
