Supreme Court Grants Bail in High-Profile Mahant Narendra Giri Death Case

In a truly significant development, the Supreme Court of India recently decided to grant bail to Anand Giri, one of the accused entangled in the tragic and widely discussed death of Mahant Narendra Giri. For those unfamiliar, Mahant Narendra Giri was a towering figure in the religious landscape, serving as the president of the Akhil Bhartiya Akhara Parishad. His untimely demise, initially investigated as an abetment to suicide case, sent shockwaves through the spiritual community and indeed, across the nation.

Anand Giri, often referred to as a disciple of the late Mahant, has been behind bars for a considerable two and a half years, facing charges under Section 306 of the Indian Penal Code – abetment to suicide. You see, the whole unfortunate saga began on September 20, 2021, when Mahant Narendra Giri was found dead, hanging in his room at the Baghambari Math in Prayagraj. A purported suicide note, discovered at the scene, reportedly implicated Anand Giri, along with Adya Tiwari and Sandeep Tiwari, alleging harassment as the reason for the Mahant's extreme step.

Following the initial investigations, the high-profile case was handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The CBI, after its thorough probe, did indeed file a chargesheet against all three individuals named in the alleged suicide note. Prior to this Supreme Court decision, the Allahabad High Court had actually denied bail to Anand Giri, a move that kept him in judicial custody as the legal process slowly, but surely, moved forward.

However, the Supreme Court, with a bench comprising Justices Aniruddha Bose and Bela M Trivedi, saw things a little differently this time. Their decision to grant bail wasn't an acquittal, mind you, but rather a consideration of specific circumstances. The court notably emphasized the prolonged period Anand Giri had already spent in jail—over two and a half years, to be precise. It was also taken into account that a chargesheet had been filed, suggesting that the investigation phase was largely complete, and that the trial itself was likely to be a lengthy affair, potentially stretching on for a significant amount of time.

Furthermore, the bench considered that Anand Giri did not have any prior criminal record, nor was he deemed a flight risk. These factors, combined with the length of his incarceration, ultimately swayed the court to grant him conditional liberty. This decision, naturally, stirs the pot once again in a case that has captivated public attention. While Anand Giri is now out on bail, the legal battle is far from over, and the trial against him and the other accused will, of course, continue to unfold in the lower courts.