Nalapad gets bail in pub assault case

The Karnataka High Court has granted bail to Mohammed Nalapad, son of Shanthinagar Congress MLA N A Haris.

Mohammed Nalapad was booked and taken into custody in connection with an assault case that occurred on February 17, at Farzi Cafe in UB City.

Justice John Michael Cunha granted him bail on the condition that he should not leave Bengaluru and furnish a Rs 2 lakh bond with two sureties.

It may be recalled that Mohammed Nalapad and six associates were arrested on February 19, two days after they assaulted Vidwath L, son a businessman, at Farzi Cafe. The fight allegedly occurred over a pretext that Vidhwath's leg accidentally touched Nalapad in the dark.

Nalapad and associates assaulted Vidwath and later followed him to Mallya Hospital and allegedly assaulted Vidwath's brother again.

Nalapad's earlier bail plea was rejected by the Sessions court and the High Court. After police filed a chargesheet, Nalapad again approached the sessions court seeking bail. But bail was denied and he then approached the High Court challenging the session court's order.

B V Acharya who appeared for Nalapad before the High court submitted that, Nalapad had only slapped Vidwath and his aides were the ones who caused the injuries to the victim.

He said that only ice buckets and bottles were used during the sudden fight. Acharya added that bottles cannot be considered as dangerous weapons.

Seeking bail, he contended that as the police had already filed a chargesheet, there is no opportunity for the accused to destroy evidence or influence witnesses.

Special Public Prosecutor M S Shyamsundar submitted that, Nalapad assaulted Vidwath with the clear intention to kill him.

He said the victim was attacked with a knuckle ring, that too not in a fit of rage or a drunken brawl, as neither Vidwath, nor Nalapad were drunk during the incident.