2008 Blast Case: Supreme Court Seeks Karnataka's Response On Abdul Nazar Maudany's Plea To Relax Condition To Stay In Bengaluru

The Supreme Court on Monday sought the State of Karnataka's response in the plea filed by 2008 Bangalore blasts case accused Abdul Nasser Maudani for relaxation of bail condition, permitting him to travel and to stay in his home town in Kerala. As part of the bail condition, the Kerala People’s Democratic Party (PDP) chairman was to stay in Bengaluru till the trial in the blasts case is over. 

The matter was before a bench of Justice A S Bopanna and Justice M M Sundresh.

Sr. Adv. Kapil Sibal appearing for Maudany informed the Court that the trial was over and that there was no reason for Maudany to continue to stay in Bangalore. Sibal also apprised the Court of Maudany's poor health:

“Trial is over, arguments are going on, it’ll take a year to finish the arguments. This Court had ordered earlier that the trial should be over in 4 months. Now it’s taken 13 years. Since 2013, he has been on conditional bail, he has to stay in Bangalore. He has an amputated leg, his kidney has to be transplanted.”

“The state says you cannot move out of Bangalore, you have to live in Bangalore. I don’t see the reason why I should remain in Bangalore. “ Sibal went on to argue.

On 17th April, the Apex Court had relaxed his bail condition to allow him to visit his ailing parents in Kerala, till 8th July. However, Sibal submitted that he had to cut short his visit as he could not afford the deposit for security cover demanded by the State of Karnataka. Ultimately, Maudany was unable to visit his ailing father, Sibal told the Court.

“This Court said you can only go to Kerala from 17th April to 8th of July. But we have to pay for the security. The man couldn’t afford so he decided to go on 26th June to 8th July. When he landed there he vomited, he was rushed to the hospital. His father is sick that’s why he was going. He stayed in the hospital, and on 8th of July he had to come back without seeing his father. That’s the state of affairs in this country. “

The State of Karnataka sought time to get instructions and the matter has been posted for further consideration on 17th July.

On 17th April, the Apex Court had relaxed Maudany's bail condition to allow him to visit his ailing parents in Kerala, till 8th July.

"Looking to the applicant’s own medical condition as well as his ailing parents who are residing in the State of Kerala, as an interim measure, consider it appropriate to order that the applicant be allowed to visit the State of Kerala for a period upto 8th July, 2023 to meet his ailing parents accompanied by the Karnataka Police Escort and return in the same manner", a Bench of Justices Ajay Rastogi and Bela Trivedi had previously ordered. The bench clarified that Maudany will have to undertake the expenses for the escort to be provided by the Karnataka Police.

Subsequently, Maudany had filed an application challenging the Karnataka government's demand that he should deposit over Rs 56 lakhs to provide security cover to him during his stay in Kerala. The Apex Court had dismissed this application.

The PDP leader, along with 31 others, was booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 for his alleged involvement in a series of bomb blasts on July 25, 2008, in Bengaluru that left one person dead and 20 injured.

Case Title: Abdul Maudany Vs State of Karnataka MA 418-426/2023 in SLP(Crl) No. 8084-8092/2013

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