Uttarakhand High Court Grants Two-Week Bail to Yoga Centre Owner in Murder Case
The vacation bench of the Uttarakhand High Court has granted short-term bail for two weeks to Abhay Yaduvanshi, a resident of Nainital. Yaduvanshi ran a yoga and fitness centre in the Mukhani area of Dehradun. He faces serious charges of killing a woman in her twenties who worked as a yoga trainer at his centre last year.
Legal Arguments for Bail
Yaduvanshi's counsel presented a compelling case before the court. They argued that due to unavoidable circumstances, the accused could not clear his first-year graduation examination. This failure meant he was declared unsuccessful in his studies.
The counsel informed the court that a back examination is now scheduled. This exam will take place alongside the third-year examination. They emphasized a critical point. Failure to clear this back examination would result in permanent cancellation of his candidature. This cancellation would bar him from continuing his graduation course entirely.
Based on these academic requirements, Yaduvanshi sought short-term bail for one month. This period would enable him to appear for both the third-year and the crucial back examinations. His legal team placed copies of date sheets, mark sheets, and other relevant documents before the court to support their request.
Court's Decision and Conditions
Justice Ashish Naithani presided over the vacation bench. After careful consideration of the facts and circumstances, the court observed that the applicant's request deserved acceptance.
The court issued its order on January 14. It stated clearly, "Accordingly, the short-term bail application is allowed." The bench directed Yaduvanshi's release on short-term bail for a period of two weeks. This period starts from the date of his actual release from custody.
However, this bail comes with strict conditions. Yaduvanshi must furnish a personal bond. He must also provide two reliable sureties of the like amount. These must satisfy the concerned court overseeing his case.
The High Court provided a crucial clarification. Upon the expiry of the two-week period, the accused must immediately surrender. He must present himself before the superintendent of the concerned jail without any delay.
Background of the Case
A case was registered on August 3 last year against Abhay Yaduvanshi and his brother Ajay. The charges fall under specific sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). These include Section 103(1), which pertains to murder, and Section 3(5), which addresses joint criminal liability under common intention.
The complaint originated from the victim's mother, Deepa. Her daughter, Jyoti Mer, worked at the fitness centre run by the Yaduvanshi brothers. According to the mother's account, her daughter faced alleged harassment from the brothers during her employment.
The First Information Report (FIR) reveals disturbing details. Jyoti had confided in her sister-in-law, Tanu, about her difficult ordeal at the workplace. She expressed her intention to quit her job by the end of that month, seeking to escape the situation.
Tragedy struck on the morning of July 31. Tanu received a phone call from one of Jyoti's colleagues. The caller informed her that Jyoti had collapsed unexpectedly. The family rushed to the spot immediately. They found Jyoti dead, marking the beginning of this legal proceeding.
The court's decision to grant bail, while temporary, highlights the balance between legal procedures, academic necessities, and the serious nature of the allegations in this ongoing case.
