The Supreme Court on Tuesday granted interim bail to Kailash Ramchandani, an accused in the 2019 Gadchiroli Naxal attack case in which 15 policemen were killed in an IED blast. The bail is subject to strict conditions, including that Ramchandani remains in his native Gadchiroli and reports weekly to local police authorities.

The bench, led by Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi, allowed Ramchandani to leave Gadchiroli only to attend trial proceedings at the special NIA court in Mumbai. He is required to provide his mobile number to the police and cannot seek any adjournments during the trial. The court also warned that violation of bail conditions or contact with Naxals could lead to revocation of the interim relief.

Ramchandani has been in jail since his arrest on June 29, 2019. He had earlier challenged the Bombay High Court’s rejection of his bail plea, arguing that charges had not yet been framed in the case and co-accused had been granted bail. Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, representing the NIA, opposed the plea, alleging Ramchandani played a key role in planning the attack.

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The Supreme Court took note of prolonged trial delays, highlighting the lack of special courts to handle cases under the NIA Act and other statutes. Justice Kant emphasized that without timely trials, courts are often forced to grant bail to ensure justice, regardless of the gravity of allegations.

The top court also recalled its March 17, 2025, order rejecting Ramchandani’s earlier bail plea, giving the Centre and Maharashtra government a final opportunity to establish proper infrastructure for special NIA courts. The court stressed that failure to act would leave no alternative but to release accused individuals due to procedural delays.

Ramchandani’s interim bail marks a significant development in a high-profile Naxal attack case, reflecting the judiciary’s concern over prolonged pre-trial detention and underscoring the need for faster trial mechanisms in cases under special statutes.

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