Separatist Alam gets bail in sedition case

Separatist Masarat Alam (44) was granted bail in the 2010 sedition case. He was seen in a video asking the Army personnel to leave the State.

“Heinousness of offence alone is not the criterion to refuse bail in case it appears that the severity of punishment attached will compel the accused to evade the process of trial,” observed Special Mobile Passenger Tax and Electricity Magistrate Surinder Singh on Wednesday, while rejecting the objections of the prosecution. “There is no likelihood of the accused evading trial when no material to that effect has been placed on record by prosecution,” held the court.

The court granted bail to Mr. Alam on the condition that “he shall not by any mode or manner cause any inducement, threat or coercion to the prosecution witnesses to depose in his favour and will not commit or repeat the similar offence in future.”