[2018 Bulandshahr lynching] Serious case of killing police officer under pretext of cow slaughter: Supreme Court stays bail to accused

The Supreme Court on Monday stayed the bail granted to Yogeshraj, an accused in the Bulandshahr mob lynching incident that led to the death of a policeman in 2018 (Rajni Singh v. State of Uttar Pradesh and Anr)..While doing so, the Bench of Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and MM Sundresh observed that it was a serious issue of lynching a police officer under the pretext that he participated in cow slaughter."The matter is quite serious where under the pretext of the cow slaughter, a police officer has been lynched. Prima facie, it is a case of people taking law into their own hand," the top court observed..The order was passed in a petition filed by Rajni Singh, the wife of Inspector Subodh Singh, who was assaulted by a mob and shot dead on the pretext that he participated in cow slaughter.Senior Advocate Sanjay Hegde and Advocate Pranjal Kishore, appearing for the petitioner, argued that Yogeshraj instigated the incident of mob violence that claimed the life of Inspector Singh.It was alleged that the accused, a district convener of the Bajrang Dal, gathered a crowd to cause communal violence on December 3, 2018, which was the last day of Ijtama observed by the Muslim community, as a consequence of which they would be on the roads..The Allahabad High Court had granted bail to Yogeshraj to maintain parity with other co-accused who had been enlarged on bail. However, the petitioner claimed that not only is the accused a flight risk, but he also holds power to influence witnesses during the pendency of the trial..In view of the arguments made, the Bench decided to stay Yogeshraj's bail and ordered him to surrender within seven days. The Court also called for a report from the trial court in Bulandshahr detailing how much time would be required for framing of charges and recording of witness statements. The matter is listed for three weeks from today..Additional Advocate General and Senior Advocate Ajay Kumar Misra, along with Advocates Sarvesh Singh Baghel and Ajay Kumar Prajapati appeared for the State.Advocate-on-Record Pashupathi Nath Razdan and Advocates Mirza Kayesh Begg, Astik Gupta and Sneh Bairwa, appeared for the accused..[Read Order]