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The Gujarat High Court on Monday (September 30) granted bail to five men in connection with the boat capsize incident which took place in a lake in Vadodara earlier in January.
A single judge bench of Justice M R Mengdey while pronouncing the order said, "All applications are allowed". The five men who were granted bail–Pareshbhai Shah, Shantilal Solanki, Nilesh Jain, Vatsal Shah, Nayan Gohil–are among the various accused booked in the matter.
On January 18, 2024, a boat capsized in Harni Lake, resulting in the deaths of 12 children and two teachers who were on a school picnic. A private firm named Kotia Projects was tasked with development of the lake project by the Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC).
Reportedly Paresh and Vatsal Shah are partners in the firm, whereas Nilesh who owns Dolphin Entertainment was reportedly given a sub contract by Kotia projects for the project; Gohil was reportedly the boatman.
The accused have been booked various provisions of the IPC including Sections 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 308 (attempt to culpable homicide), 337 (rash or negligent act endangering human life) and 114 (abettor present when crime committed).
A detailed copy of the orders is awaited.
Case title: PARESHBHAI RAMANLAL SHAH v/s STATE OF GUJARAT and batch