Illegal constructions at Chandola Lake: Lalla Bihari, son granted conditional bail by Gujarat HC

The Gujarat High Court on Friday granted conditional bail to accused Lalla Bihari and his son Fateh Mohammad in the Chandola Lake illegal construction case.

Earlier this year, Ahmedabad authorities had demolished large-scale illegal encroachments at Chandola Lake, including farmhouses and unauthorized electricity connections on government land. In the case, police arrested mastermind Lalla Bihari and his son for facilitating these illegal activities.

The DCB police booked them under BNS and the Electricity Act. Their bail plea was earlier rejected by the sessions court, following which they moved the High Court. The HC has now granted them bail with strict conditions — mandatory appearance at the police station and a restriction on leaving India.

Investigations revealed that Lalla Bihari not only encroached on government land but also helped illegal Bangladeshi infiltrators settle in the Chandola area. He was arrested from Rajasthan after a long chase, while his son was nabbed on April 29, 2025. On May 4, police took both father and son to the encroached sites to record their statements.

In the mega demolition drive, nearly 4,000 hutments and structures around Chandola Lake were razed. Police sources further said that Bihari invested his illegal earnings into gold, construction, and land deals in Uttar Pradesh.

Meanwhile, Bihari and his son’s petition to prevent PASA action is still pending in the high court.