The Bombay High Court on Friday granted bail to Munib Iqbal Memon, one of the accused in the 2012 Pune serial blasts case, who has spent nearly 12 years in jail. The court directed Memon to be released on furnishing personal bond of Rs 1 lakh along with sureties of the same amount. A division bench of Justices Revati Mohite-Dere and Sharmila U Deshmukh passed a verdict on appeal by Memon, challenging the special court order of February that refused bail to him. In September 2022, the HC bench led by Justice Mohite-Dere had rejected Munib's bail plea observing that prima facie, there were no reasonable grounds for believing that he was not guilty of the charges, and that the claims against him seemed true. The HC had expedited the trial in the case and had asked the trial court to conclude it by December, 2023. Advocate Mubin Solkar for Memon argued that his client, a nearly 42-year-old tailor, was in detention without trial for over 12 years, which was in violation of his right to speedy trial, therefore he should be released on bail. The explosions at Pune’s Jangli Maharaj Road on August 1, 2012, had taken place within minutes, injuring one person; and an unexploded bomb was also defused. The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) had arrested eight men, including Memon, for their alleged involvement in the case. Memon has been charged with relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA), Explosive Substances Act, and the Arms Act.
