The Karnataka High Court has recently sanctioned parole for Mohammed Akhil, a convict implicated in the 2000 church attacks in Hubli and other parts of the state. This decision stems from a petition filed by Mubeen Unnissa Begum, Akhil's wife, which was approved by Justice M Nagaprasanna, presiding over a single-judge bench.
In her plea, Begum appealed for her husband's release on parole, citing her own health issues and the deteriorating conditions of other elderly family members. Justice Nagaprasanna considered the petitioner's circumstances and granted the request.
Akhil had previously been convicted for various offenses related to the church attacks, including sections 120B r/w. 121, 121A, 124A, 153A, 426, 437 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for sedition, and sections 3 and 5 of the Explosives Substances Act, 1908 r/w. Rule 5 and 9B of the Explosive Rules, 1984. These charges, along with others, carried a potential punishment of life imprisonment. The attacks had occurred in Hubli and other parts of Karnataka in the year 2000.
Having served 23 years of imprisonment without any remission, Akhil had not been granted parole during this entire period. The petitioner based her plea on a precedent set by a coordinate bench in W.P.No.5780/2023, which, on 12.07.2023, had granted parole to a co-accused in the same case.
Taking this into consideration, Justice Nagaprasanna deemed it appropriate to grant parole to Akhil for a specified period. The parole, set from 07.12.2023 to 20.12.2023, would allow Akhil to attend to his ailing wife and family members.
Additionally, the court extended this compassionate approach to another accused, Mohammed Siddiq, who was arrested in connection with the same case. Siddiq's daughter had filed a petition seeking leave for her father, and the court, considering the circumstances, granted parole for him as well.
This decision reflects the court's acknowledgment of the humanitarian aspect in these cases, considering the health conditions of family members and the previous precedent of granting parole to a co-accused. While upholding the legal consequences of the convictions, the court recognizes the need for a balanced approach in addressing the personal hardships faced by the families of the accused.
TAGS: Karnataka High Court Mohammed Akhil Parole Church attacks Hubli State Single-judge bench Justice M Nagaprasanna Mubeen Unnissa Begum
