Bengaluru former mayor's supporter gets bail in riots case

The high court has granted bail to S Santosh Kumar, a follower of former mayor R Sampath Raj, in the East Bengaluru riots case.

Justice John Michael Cunha granted bail to Kumar and directed him to execute a bail bond for Rs 5 lakh with two sureties for the like sum. The court also directed him not to indulge in similar activities and to attend the trial regularly.

Kumar was arrested on August 25, 2020, and named an accused.

While granting him bail, the court observed that provisions under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act cannot be invoked as he himself belongs to the Scheduled Castes. This apart, the court said that there were no materials to connect him to the alleged act of dacoity.

Kumar was denied bail in November 2020 on the grounds that Raj was absconding. But the former mayor and two other accused were either arrested or they surrendered themselves. They were also released on bail. Kumar moved the bail petition claiming parity.