Neeraj Sehrawat, alias Bawania, has been in judicial custody since 2015, accused of orchestrating the murder of a rival gang member inside a prison van.
He faces multiple criminal charges and, despite being incarcerated for nearly a decade, his trial has been repeatedly adjourned, prompting arguments over undue delay. Sehrawat’s family life has suffered severely during his long imprisonment; he was married in 2012, and his wife, Aarti, now lies in critical condition.
Application For Interim Bail vs. Custody Parole
Initially, Sehrawat petitioned the Delhi High Court for six weeks of interim bail—time he argued was essential to care for his wife in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Mehta Hospital, Pandav Nagar. Senior Advocate N. Hariharan, representing Sehrawat alongside Advocate Siddharth Yadav, highlighted that Ms. Sehrawat has been in the ICU since the previous evening and urgently requires her husband’s presence both for emotional support and to sign consent forms for an imminent surgery.
Court’s Decision
On Monday, Justice Manoj Jain granted Sehrawat a one-day custody parole on July 1, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., expressly for the purpose of seeing his wife and providing the necessary surgical consent. The bench stipulated strict conditions: Sehrawat must not interact with anyone other than his wife and the treating doctor, and the Jail Superintendent must ensure robust security arrangements given his status as a high-risk inmate.
Prosecution’s Concerns
Additional Public Prosecutor Lakshay Khanna strongly opposed any form of release, citing several factors:
Gang War Apprehension: “There is an apprehension of gang war in Delhi and one person has been killed.”
High-Risk Profile: Sehrawat is a high-risk prisoner whose release—even temporarily—could endanger both himself and the public.
Flight Risk: His extensive criminal history (28 cases) and ability to evade enforcement led Khanna to argue that Sehrawat might abscond if granted bail.
Defense Submissions & Concessions
Recognizing the state’s security concerns, Sehrawat’s counsel scaled back the request from six weeks of interim bail to a single day of custody parole. They conceded that, for procedural and emotional reasons—the need to sign surgical documents and provide spousal support—limited time in hospital premises would suffice.
Procedural History
Notice on Bail Plea: On June 25, the High Court issued notice on Sehrawat’s interim bail application.
Earlier Bail Rejection: His regular bail application was dismissed by the High Court in January, with detailed discussion of trial delays and his criminal antecedents.
With the limited custody parole now approved, Sehrawat will be escorted to Mehta Hospital on July 1. The High Court’s order ensures he can fulfill critical familial duties without compromising public safety. Further hearings on his underlying bail plea remain pending, where trial delay arguments and custodial conditions will again be weighed.
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