A local court in Chandigarh has rejected the anticipatory bail plea of Vijay Kumar, who is accused of illegally refilling gas cylinders in a shop at Burail village. The explosion on May 25 resulted in three deaths and five injuries.
Details of the Incident
According to the First Information Report (FIR), Vijay Kumar was allegedly involved in the unlawful business of refilling gas cylinders. The complainant stated that Vijay, who lived in an adjacent room and conducted the refilling activities, also sustained burn injuries during the blast.
Following the explosion, gas cylinders were found scattered across the street. The complainant alleged that the incident was caused by Vijay Kumar's illegal gas cylinder refilling operations. Three individuals—Munna, Manish, and Gopi—died in the incident, while five others were injured. The victims were resting in a room behind the shop, separated only by a wall, when the explosion occurred.
Arguments Presented in Court
The defense counsel argued that Vijay Kumar was innocent and earned his livelihood through a small shop. It was also submitted that he had suffered burn injuries in the incident and had been hospitalized since May 25. The defense contended that the FIR was registered based on false allegations.
Conversely, the public prosecutor argued that granting anticipatory bail to the applicant could lead to him hampering the investigation, absconding, or influencing witnesses.
Court's Observations and Decision
After hearing both sides, the court noted that according to the prosecution, 18 cylinders and six nozzles were recovered from the spot during the investigation. The court remarked, "If the accused had nothing to do with the incident, then how 18 cylinders were present in his room has not been explained."
The court further observed that the accused needed to be interrogated regarding the source of such a large number of cylinders and the alleged refilling operation. "In these circumstances, custodial interrogation of the accused is required for a complete and effective investigation. The mere fact that the accused was injured in the incident does not entitle him to the concession of anticipatory bail," the court held.
The court's decision underscores the seriousness of the illegal gas refilling operations that led to a fatal explosion, emphasizing the need for thorough investigation to prevent such incidents in the future.
