Supreme Court permits Abdul Nasser Madani to visit Kerala till July 8

New Delhi: Peoples Democratic Party chairman Abdul Nasser Madani who is an accused in the 2008 Bengaluru blast case has been granted permission by the Supreme Court to visit Kerala.

Madani, who is currently in Bengaluru, has been allowed to stay in Kerala till July 8 under the supervision of the Karnataka Police. However, Madani will be responsible for covering the expenses of the Karnataka Police during his stay in Kerala.

Madani approached the court seeking modifications to his bail conditions so that he could return home and receive necessary medical treatment. He has been suffering from various health issues as a result of his prolonged incarceration. He was earlier granted bail due to his health condition, but was barred from leaving Bengaluru.

"After we have heard learned counsel appearing for the parties, looking to the applicant's own medical condition as well as his ailing parents who are residing in the State of Kerala, as an interim measure, consider it appropriate to order that the applicant be allowed to visit the State of Kerala for a period upto July 9, 2023, to meet his ailing parents accompanied by the Karnataka Police Escort and return in the same manner. The charges for the same shall be borne by the applicant himself," the top court said.

"It is open for the State of Karnataka to take all such precautions to ensure that the applicant does not abuse the liberty granted," the top court said.

Madani arrived in Kerala a few times with the permission of the court to attend the marriages of his daughter and son and visit his ailing mother who passed away in 2018 during his last visit to the state.

In 2017, he was charged Rs 1,18,000 by the Karnataka government for his son's wedding. Initially, the government demanded Rs 15 lakh, but after facing criticism from the Supreme Court, the amount was reduced to Rs 1,18,000. The SC had granted Madani permission to travel to Kerala for twelve days.

The Anti-Terrorist Cell of the Karnataka Police has raised objections to Madani's plea, citing that he is accused in a case that has significant implications for the security and integrity of the country.

Karnataka ATC expressed concerns that if Madani's bail conditions are relaxed, there is a high likelihood that he may abscond. It argued that six other accused individuals, who have not yet been arrested in the case, may contact Madani, gather sensitive information, and potentially threaten witnesses.

One person was killed and 20 others sustained injuries when a series of nine low-intensity crude bombs were detonated near the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on July 25, 2008. Following the incident, Madani was taken into custody as he was accused of being the mastermind behind the explosions.