Gujarat High Court Grants Temporary Bail To Accused In 2023 Iskcon Bridge 'Hit-And-Run' Case To Attend Mother's Surgery

The Gujarat High Court has granted temporary bail of four days to a man booked causing an accident in 2023 at Iskon Bridge in Ahmedabad which claimed nine lives, on account of medical condition of his mother. 

The accused Tathya Patel had moved an application seeking temporary bail on account of surgery of his mother. The state opposed the application arguing that date of operation has been fixed as per the convenience of the mother of the applicant. The state said that earlier when the operation was postponed, the applicant had not immediately surrendered; subsequently, on 18.05.2025, he was taken by the police to the Jail authority.

However the accused said that in case the operation is not performed on the given date he will immediately surrender.

After hearing the parties vacation bench of Justice LS Pirzada partly allowed the plea and said:

"Considering the arguments and considering the medical papers/ certificate, the present application is partly allowed. The applicant – accused shall be released on temporary bail for a period of four (04) days, starting from 26.05.2025 at 6:00 a.m. to 29.05.2025 till 9:00 p.m. with police escort consisting of one Head Constable and 2 constables at the cost of the applicant and upon furnishing a personal bond of Rs.5000/- (Rupees Five Thousand Only) with a surety of the like amount to the satisfaction of the jail authority".

The court however said that if the surgery of the applicant's mother is not performed on the given date or is postponed, then the applicant "has to surrender to the jail authority immediately without fail".

"The applicant shall surrender before the concerned jail authority on expiry of the temporary bail period," the court directed. 

Notably the high court had in December last year dismissed the Patel's regular bail plea observing that the material on record indicated that he had a history of rash driving and had earlier caused several vehicular accidents due to such driving.

The FIR was lodged against him for offences under Section 279 (rash or negligent driving endangering human life), 337 (causing hurt by an act of rash or negligent behaviour endangering human life or personal safety), 338 (causing grievous hurt by an act of rash or negligent behaviour endangering human life or safety),304 (Culpable Homicide not amounting to murder) under IPC as well as under Sections 177(general provision for Penalty), 184 (driving dangerously) and Section 134 (b) duty of driver in case of accident and injury to a person) of Motor Vehicles Act.

Case title: TATHYA PRAGNESHBHAI PATEL Versus STATE OF GUJARAT & ANR.

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