The Gujarat High Court granted anticipatory bail to five, including Samir Patel among Four Amos Directors and one supervisor. They had approached the HC after a court in Botad turned down the anticipatory bail plea. Samir Patel and four others of Amos company were anticipating arrest in the hooch tragedy case at Barwala in Botad district.
Those who got bail include Chandubhai Patel and Pankaj Patel aged 90 years and 85 years. They along with two other directors Samir Patel, Ranjit Choksi, and a contractor Rajendra Dasadia had approached the High Court to seek reprieve from the arrest by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) investigating the Botad hooch tragedy. SIT had issued a summons to them to appear for questioning.
On 15th September, Gujarat High Court granted anticipatory bail. The name of the company, Amos was involved in the alleged supply of methyl alcohol to a bootlegger in the Botad hooch tragedy.
The state Government had submitted that custodial interrogation is required as discrepancy found in the stock of a large number of chemicals has been found during the investigation by the police. An additional 1,300 liters stock over and above thelegitimate 8,000 liters of chemical was found in the company.
Before this hearing, directors had proposed to give Rs 3 lakh to the next kin of those who lost their lives in the Botad hooch tragedy. On top of that, compensation of up to Rs 50,000 was offered to the persons who fall ill in the tragedy that claimed 46 lives.
While arguing the case, the lawyers of the directors had offered a total sum of Rs 1.75 crore. In total 3 FIRs have been filed with Dhandhuka police along with Ranpur and Barwala police stations in Botad.
Also Read: Gujarat Hooch Tragedy: Court Denies Anticipatory Bail To Samir Patel
