Industrialist Samir Thapar and 10 others were finally able to secure release from the prison on Wednesday evening in a case of forest trespass, possession of firearm, various raw and cooked meats while partying on new year’s eve in reserved forest area.
According to information provided by the police, apart from Thapar, the others who were released from the Pauri jail on bail on Wednesday include Rajeev Khana, Jayant Nanda, Randeep Maan, Sidharth Sharma, Rajeev Jain, Roony Bhaat, Rahul Rao, Rohit Singh Dagar, Saberdeep Maan and Mohendra Singh.
It will be recalled that a total of 16 persons including Thapar are accused of violating various regulations on December 31 at the Kolhuchaur forest rest house. A total of 11 of the accused had been able to secure bail from the High Court of Uttarakhand in Nainital earlier on Tuesday. One of the 16 accued in the case, Arif Hussain who was found to be in possession of 15 live rounds of 375 bore has reportedly not applied for bail either in the court of the additional district judge or in the high court.
The 11 persons released had been granted bail by the single bench of the high court. Due to the holidays in high court, the hearing was conducted by the single bench. Earlier, the high court had rejected the application of the accused seeking urgent hearing of bail application and directed that the application for bail will be taken up according to the norms of the court.
It will be recalled that on December 31, 2016, acting on information about some persons dressed in army-like clothing and carrying automatic weapons being seen in the jungles of Kolhuchaud in the lansdowne forest division, the police had acted to discover a group of ‘influential’ persons and their friends partying with various questionable aspects. The police team found tents pitched in the forest rest house compound without valid permission, a total of 171 liquor bottles, one German made 300 bore rifle kept in a box with 23 live rounds, telescopic sight and 15 live cartridges of 375 bore from Aarif Hussain. The weapon which may have been used for the 375 bore rounds found on Hussain has not yet been found by the police and is considered to be a crucial piece of the case as it could potentially ascertain whether poaching was also carried out by the group.