The Bombay High Court on Tuesday (December 23, 2025) dismissed bail applications filed by four accused in the April 2020 Palghar lynching case, observing that the seriousness of the offence and their overt acts outweighed claims of parity and prolonged incarceration.
Justice Neela Gokhale, pronouncing two separate orders, rejected the pleas of Rajesh Dhakal Rao, Sunil Satya Shantaram Dalvi, Sajanya Barkya Burkud, and Vinod Ramu Rao. All four have been in custody for more than five years.
Palghar lynching case | Court grants bail to 53 accused
The case relates to the mob killing of two seers, Kalpavrikshagiri Maharaj and Sushilgiri Maharaj, and their driver Nilesh Telgade in Gadchinchle village during the COVID-19 lockdown. A crowd of 400-500 villagers allegedly attacked the trio, mistaking them for child abductors, and even assaulted police personnel who tried to intervene. The FIR invoked multiple provisions, including Sections 302 (murder), 120B (criminal conspiracy), 353 (assault on public servant), 147-149 (rioting) of the IPC, along with sections of the Disaster Management Act, Epidemic Diseases Act, and Maharashtra Police Act.
Counsel for the applicants argued that the incident was a “spur-of-the-moment mob attack” without intent to murder and sought bail on two grounds, parity with 42 co-accused already enlarged on bail and long incarceration. “Presuming, without admitting the prosecution case, ingredients of Section 302 are not made out. The villagers presumed the persons disguised as sadhus to be thieves,” said advocate Saili Dhuru for Rao, while advocate Sachin Pawar, appearing for the other three, contended that the viral video panchanama lacked evidentiary value and witnesses only affirmed presence at the scene.
