ANI
The petition requested that Sharma be allowed to avoid appearing in court for future hearings in the case due to his responsibilities as Chief Minister and the frequent travel demands of his post. However, the court stressed that Sharma’s bail was dependent on his availability to appear in court when summoned.
The Additional District Judge (ADJ) court in Rajasthan has rejected Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma’s plea for permanent exemption from court appearance in the 2011 Gopalgarh riot case. The petition requested that Sharma be allowed to avoid appearing in court for future hearings in the case due to his responsibilities as Chief Minister and the frequent travel demands of his post. However, the court stressed that Sharma’s bail was dependent on his availability to appear in court if summoned.
Bhajanlal Sharma, Congress leader Zahida Khan and others were granted anticipatory bail in connection with the 2011 communal riots in Bharatpur district. Riots arising out of a land dispute between the Meo Muslim and Gujjar communities led to violent clashes. The police opened fire to control the situation, resulting in the death of ten people and injuries to more than 45 people. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which is investigating the case, filed a chargesheet in March 2012, naming 15 persons.
