Team Goemkarponn
Panaji: An accused in a 2019 criminal case, who continued to remain in judicial custody despite being granted bail more than three years ago due to stringent surety conditions, has finally secured his release after the High Court of Bombay at Goa modified the bail terms.
The High Court reduced the surety amount imposed on Robert Obidike, an accused in a case registered at Pernem Police Station, from ₹1 lakh to ₹20,000. The court observed that the earlier condition had effectively prevented the accused from availing the bail granted to him in November 2021. Justice Shreeram V Shirsat passed the order while allowing Obidike’s application seeking relaxation of the bail condition.
During the proceedings, the applicant informed the court that the surety amount fixed earlier was far beyond his financial capacity, leaving him unable to secure release. He submitted that he had already spent over six years in custody despite the grant of bail.
The State opposed the plea, contending that the offence involved was of a serious nature. The prosecution argued that easing the bail conditions could increase the risk of the accused absconding or indulging in illegal activities, including drug-related offences, and urged the court to dismiss the application.
After hearing both sides, the court noted that bail had been granted on November 30, 2021, and that the accused continued to remain incarcerated solely due to his inability to furnish the required surety, despite sincere efforts to do so.
Taking these circumstances into account, the court allowed the application and modified the earlier bail order. The accused has been permitted to furnish a personal bond of ₹20,000 along with a surety of the same amount to the satisfaction of the trial court. The High Court clarified that all other conditions imposed in the earlier bail order will continue to remain in force.
