The Bombay high court has rejected the bail application of Sameer Gaikwad, an accused in comrade Govind Pansare’s murder case, stating that it was a conspiracy and therefore the plea could not be allowed.

While rejecting the bail application, the court observed that telephonic conversation of Gaikwad and his girlfriend Jyoti had been corroborated with the statement of a 14-year-old boy who was the main eyewitness in the case.

The court also rejected the contention of the accused that merely in the name of further investigation, the accused could not be kept indefinitely in jail and that it was violation of article 21 of the Constitution.

The court also observed that article 21 was not applicable to the accused because it clearly stated that no person would be deprived of his life or personal liberty except according to the procedure established by law.

Justice A.M. Badar further observed that there was no personal enmity between the accused Gaikwad and Pansare but there were ideological differences. Gaikwad was a sadhak of Sanatan Sanstha and comrade Pansare used to criticise the organisation.

The prosecution opposed the bail application claiming that the accused could abscond if given bail and also influence the eyewitnesses and tamper with evidence.

Pubic prosecutor Hemant Nimbalkar said the investigations were on the right path and details of it would be shared with the high court soon.