Court Drops Attempt-To-Murder Charge, Grants Bail To 6 Congress Workers In Agra CEC Residence Case

A court in Agra on Saturday granted bail to six Congress workers arrested for allegedly defacing the gate and outer wall of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s residence during a protest, while expressing displeasure over the police handling of the case.

Chief Judicial Magistrate Sharib Ali granted bail to the six accused after police failed to establish a case under Section 109(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which relates to attempt to murder, their lawyer Santosh Dixit said.

The police had initially invoked the stringent provision along with several other charges. However, during the proceedings, the court directed investigators to provide specific facts, injuries, medical evidence, eyewitness accounts or other material supporting the charge. The police were also asked to complete the investigation by October 3 and drop the provision if the alleged offence was not made out.

As the police failed to substantiate the charge, the court granted bail to Mukesh Dhangar, Anil Yadav, Rajesh Kumar, Manoj Gaur, Rajesh Gautam and Pankaj Chaudhary. The six, who had been lodged in Agra district jail, furnished Rs 20,000 surety bonds each.

The case relates to a September 28 protest in Agra’s Vijay Nagar area, during which Congress workers allegedly painted slogans in black on the wall and gate outside Kumar’s residence. Police registered an FIR against eight named persons and 15-20 unidentified workers.

The accused were booked under multiple BNS provisions, including those concerning assault or criminal force against a public servant, wrongful restraint, rioting, house-trespass, criminal intimidation and intentional insult. The six workers were arrested on September 29.

Congress Agra city president Amit Singh welcomed the court’s decision and said the party would continue its agitation demanding Kumar’s resignation.

The protest was part of the Congress’ nationwide campaign over its “vote chori” allegations against the Election Commission.