New Delhi: A Delhi court Wednesday granted anticipatory bail to one co-accused in the abduction and attempt to murder case involving former Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) officer Vikash Yadav, ThePrint has learnt. The co-accused, identified as Bikram Gogoi, had already obtained protection from arrest by Delhi Police, which has charged Yadav and other co-accused in a case filed on allegations by a Delhi businessman.
Accepting Gogoi’s argument that his role in the case was limited to “introducing” the other two co-accused in the case, Abdullah Khan and Sameer alias Jalaluddin, a Delhi court observed a lack of “specific evidence” to establish his role in the exact crime beyond what he has admitted to.
Additionally, the court also observed that Gogoi had appeared before the investigating officer (IO) of the case on four occasions on its directions and that no recoveries were pending from him in the case.
“It is pertinent to note that the applicant has joined the investigation on all directed dates and has provided statements clarifying his position. No recovery is to be effected from him, and further custodial interrogation does not appear necessary at this stage. The main accused persons, including Sameer @ Jalaludeen, have already been arrested and granted bail, further diminishing the risk of tampering with evidence or influencing witnesses by the applicant,” the judge observed while allowing the application.
Adding, “Granting anticipatory bail in these circumstances would not prejudice the investigation, while denial could result in undue hardship to the applicant, who is a permanent resident of Assam with no prior criminal record.”
Wanted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in connection with an alleged plot to assassinate Sikh separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, Yadav was arrested by the Delhi Police weeks after his indictment. He is currently on bail while the trial is underway.
The US Department of Justice indicted him after co-accused Nikhil Gupta was arrested in the Czech Republic and extradited to the United States.
The abduction and attempt to murder case being probed by the Delhi Police Special Cell was registered on a complaint by Raj Kumar Walia, a Delhi-based businessman. Walia alleged that Yadav and Abdullah attempted to extort money from him in the name of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi after his abduction and torture in 2023.
The Delhi Police charge sheet alleged that Jalaluddin had given the contract to kill Walia.
All three accused in this case—Yadav, Abdullah and Jalaluddin—are currently out on bail, a fact the judge took into consideration while extending anticipatory bail to Gogoi.
ThePrint earlier reported that Gogoi had argued he was unaware of Jalaluddin’s criminal antecedents and only communicated with him over the phone from his native place in Guwahati, where he was engaged in the real estate business.
On the other hand, Abdullah, a Delhi resident, was staying in Guwahati owing to his quarry business and was known to him.
When asked if he knew anyone in Delhi, Gogoi claimed in his court plea that he introduced Abdullah to Jamaluddin.
The court has directed Gogoi to submit his mobile number and address to the investigating officer. As part of the anticipatory bail conditions, he has also been directed not to leave the country.
(Edited by Amrtansh Arora)
Also Read: Delhi court issues non-bailable warrant against R&AW ex-officer Vikash Yadav in 2023 abduction case