Court grants bail to 13 in Bopal farmhouse rave party case, including 6 Kenyan nationals

The Ahmedabad Rural District Court has granted bail to 13 accused, including six Kenyan nationals, in the high-profile Bopal farmhouse rave party case where police busted an illegal gathering involving prohibited liquor and hookah.

Additional Sessions Judge Namrata Unadkat granted bail to farmhouse owner Milan Patel, Kenyan national Kiptoo Jon, liquor suppliers Anant Kapil and Ashish Jadeja, and nine other co-accused present at the party. 

The court noted that most of the investigation is complete, the accused have no prior criminal history. The case is triable by a magistrate and is not likely to conclude soon. Considering the nature of the crime, age and role of the accused as presented by the prosecution, prolonged incarceration would be unfair," the judge observed.

Bail was granted on strict conditions: the accused must submit permanent residential addresses and contact details, and cannot leave the country without trial court permission.

Prosecution opposes bail

The public prosecutor strongly opposed the bail applications, arguing that the accused actively participated in the offence. "A huge quantity of prohibited liquor was seized. Other absconding accused are yet to be arrested. If released, there is a real risk they may flee, fail to appear for trial, tamper with evidence, or engage in similar illegal activities," the prosecutor submitted.

Defence counters

Defence counsel contended there is no prima facie evidence linking the applicants to the crime. "The investigation no longer requires their presence. They have clean records and are willing to comply with all bail conditions," the lawyers argued.

The raid and seizures

On the intervening night, Bopal Police conducted a late-night raid at Zephyr Stays farmhouse during an event as AFRO DANCE NIGHT HOT GRABBER PARTY. The party was organised without requisite licenses or permits, with entry via distributed passes. Police recovered 29 sealed Indian made foreign liquor bottles, 22 beer tins,  6 semi-consumed liquor bottles and glasses, 13 hookah pipes and 62 printed entry passes.

An FIR was registered at Bopal Police Station under relevant sections of the Gujarat Prohibition Act and other laws. A total of 20 individuals, including 13 foreign nationals, were initially arrested.