Karnataka High Court Grants Bail To Man Accused Of Placing Footwear On Ambedkar, Jagjivan Ram Photos; Says Probe Complete

The Karnataka High Court has granted bail to a 38-year-old man accused of tying footwear on the photographs of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and Babu Jagjivan Ram, reasoning that he had already been in judicial custody for nearly six months and the investigation was complete. [2026 LiveLaw (Kar) 439]

The single judge bench of Justice Rajeshwari N. Hegde allowed the plea filed by the accused while setting aside the order of the trial court, which had rejected his bail plea.

“…On going through the facts and circumstances of the case, considering that charge sheet has already been filed and he has been in Judicial Custody for a period of six months, his custodial interrogation may not be required and as there are no criminal antecedents, this Court is inclined to grant bail…”, the court noted in the order,

According to the prosecution, in March 2026, the accused, allegedly degraded the national heroes by tying footwear on the photos of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and Babu Jagjivan Ram, thereby doing an act with the intent to cause communal disturbance.

Thereafter, Gajendragad Police registered a case against the accused for offences under Sections 196(1)(a), 352, and 353(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, r/w Section 3(1)(t) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Act, 2015.

On March 3,2026, the accused was arrested by the police. After the completion of the investigation, a charge sheet was filed. Following this, the accused moved the Sessions Court for regular bail, which was rejected on June 19, 2026. Accordingly, he approached the High Court.

Advocate Vidyashankar Dalwai, appearing for the appellant, argued that he had been in judicial custody for nearly six months since March. He submitted that since the charge sheet had already been filed, the custodial interrogation of the accused was no longer required.

The accused further said that he was innocent with no criminal antecedents, and falsely implicated in the case by the police. He also pointed out that the accused is an agriculturist and the earning member of his family, with no prior criminal antecedents.

On the other hand, HCGP Abhishek Malipatil, opposed the appeal, and said that the accused had undermined national heroes, causing communal disturbance in the village. As per the state, if the accused were released on bail, there was a chance he might commit similar offences.

After hearing both sides, the court ordered the release of the accused, subject to the execution of a personal bond for Rs. 1 lakh with one surety for the like sum.

The Court clarified that the violation of any of the conditions imposed would entitle the prosecution to seek cancellation of bail.