Sharad Pawar attacker gets bail, warned not to indulge in violence

A Delhi court on Monday granted bail to local transporter Arvinder Singh, arrested last month for slapping Union Minister Sharad Pawar at a public function, but firmly disapproved of his violent ways of protest in the land of Mahatama Gandhi and Gautam Buddha.

"Violence in any form at any place irrespective of the grievance of an individual, is to be neither preached nor approved. The applicant (Singh) may have his own ways to express his anger," said District Judge (DJ) HS Sharma, while granting bail to Singh.

"However, at the same time, he is to shun violence. Ours is a land of Gautam and Gandhi where non-violence has always been preached and followed," the judge added.

The court enlarged Singh on bail on a personal bond of Rs10,000 with one surety of the same amount and directed him to incorporate an undertaking while executing the bail bond that he will not indulge in violence in future.

To Singh's plea that he was suffering from mental disorder and should be enlarged on bail, the judge said it might be his "defence strategy" but held that no useful purpose would be served by keeping him in custody.

"This court does not have any material to hold, at this stage, that the applicant (Singh) is suffering from any mental disorder. It may be a defence strategy of the applicant.

"However, at this stage, it cannot be appreciated particularly when the prosecution, after the arrest of the applicant, had made a request to send him to judicial custody... No useful purpose will be served by keeping him in jail," the judge said.