Jailed cop denied visit to attend wife’s post funeral rites: Bombay HC – Times of India

MUMBAI: Observing that the risk of sending a jailed police officer to Kolhapur to attend the post funeral rites of his wife is high due to the ongoing pandemic, the Bombay high court has directed the Taloja prison officials to enable him to attend it via video conference.
Justice Sarang Kotwal rejected Abhay Kurundkar’s application for temporary bail for six days between April 23-28 to attend the tenth and thirteenth day rituals at Ajara. Kurundkar’s wife succumbed to Covid19 on April 15.
Kurundkar, who was police inspector at Thane rural branch, is facing trial for the murder of Ashwini Bidre, assistant police inspector attached to the Protection of Civil Rights Department in Kalamboli headquarters and training centre of Navi Mumbai police. Bidre went missing on April 11, 2016.
Kurundkar moved HC after the sessions court, Panvel rejected his plea.
On April 23, his advocate argued that Kurundkar’s son and daughter have tested negative and he has taken first dose of vaccine. He said the escorts would be frontline workers who have taken the vaccine. Hence, there would be no danger in allowing him to go to Ajara.
But special public prosecutor Pradip Gharat opposed his plea saying it is not just a question of Kurundkar or his family’s safety but also safety concerns for the jail inmates and escorts once he returns.
Justice Kotwal agreed with Gharat. “At this stage the risk involved is much higher. Though it is very unfortunate that the applicant was unable to attend the funeral of his wife, I am not inclined to permit the applicant to go to Ajara to attend the rituals, considering the prevailing situation in the State of Maharashtra,’’ he said.
The judge said that the court would have considered Kurundkar’s plea in normal circumstances. “However, the situation is serious. Infection is spreading fast and wide.”
Justice Kotwal said Kurundkar may apply again once the situation becomes reasonably safe for him to travel to Ajara and the trial court shall decide his application on its merits. The judge added that the trial court’s April 20 directions, including for video conference, shall remain. “The jail authorities shall make proper arrangement as directed by the trial court so that the applicant can interact with his family members through video conferencing at the time of these rituals,’’ he concluded.
After Ashwini Bidre went missing, her brother Anand Bidre and husband Raju Gore had lodged a missing complaint at Kalamboli on July 14. 2016. After Anand filed a habeas corpus petition in the high court, the police probe began in earnest.