PANAJI
The Bombay High Court at Goa has cancelled the bail of rape accused Wazid Ansari after finding that he repeatedly failed to appear before the trial court and deliberately avoided receiving court notices.
Justice Neela Gokhale noted that Ansari had violated the conditions of his bail order dated 13 July 2022, remaining absent from the trial on multiple occasions. Records showed his absence on at least ten dates, prompting the issuance of non-bailable warrants (NBWs).
Ansari is alleged to have lured a woman to Goa in 2021 for a photo shoot, during which Sanjay Singhania is said to have sexually assaulted her. The survivor claimed both men were the same, but earlier investigations did not establish this.
During the hearing, the prosecution informed the court that multiple attempts to serve notices on Ansari”via email, phone calls, WhatsApp, and police in Bihar where he resides”had failed. “It is clear that the accused is deliberately avoiding service of notices and has violated the conditions of his bail,” the Bench observed.
The accused’s counsel stated that the trial had begun with the first prosecution witness under examination, but proceedings could not continue due to Ansari’s absence.
Considering these facts, the High Court ruled that bail cancellation was warranted, noting that the trial court could not proceed. The court directed Ansari to surrender before the Investigating Officer at Mapusa Police Station within one week, failing which the police are authorised to arrest him.
