Supreme Court Grants Anticipatory Bail To Man Accused Of Selling Gutkha On Condition To Not Deal With Gutkha

While granting anticipatory bail to a man who was accused of selling Gutkha, the Supreme Court imposed a condition that he will not deal with Gutkha.

"It is deemed appropriate to impose the condition – 'I, ....do undertake to not deal with Gutkha, that is, Pan Masala with Tobacco'. In case, the appellant - Abhijeet Jitendra Lolage violates the terms and conditions of bail, including the undertaking imposed, it would be open to the prosecution to seek cancellation of bail. It is clarified that the observations recorded in the signed order will not be treated as findings on the merits of the case," ordered a bench comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna and SVN Bhatti.

The Court passed the order setting aside a Bombay High Court's order which rejected his anticipatory bail application.

The accused had also been booked under Section 188 (disobedience of order duly promulgated by public servants) of the Indian Penal Code, and various provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act.

 Click here to read the order.