Gulbarg Society Case: Accused Number 1, Kailash Dhobi, Surrenders

Dhobi was behind bars for nearly 14 years and was granted temporary bail in December last year on health grounds.

A convict in the 2002 Gulbarg society massacre case, who had jumped temporary bail granted to him in December last year, surrendered before a special SIT court on Monday.

Kailash Dhobi is one of 11 persons convicted for murder and other offences, and is listed as accused number one by the SIT in the Gulbarg society case in which 69 persons, including former Congress MP Ehsan Jafri, were killed.

Dhobi was evading arrest after jumping bail. He is named as accused number one and is convicted of murder and other offences. Today (Monday) he surrendered before Special SIT Judge PB Desai.

RC Kodekar, Special Public Prosecutor

The convict was sent to judicial custody by the court.

The special SIT court said that the quantum of sentence for 24 convicts in the case will be announced on Friday.

Dhobi was arrested in 2002 and was behind bars for nearly 14 years. He was granted temporary bail by the Gujarat High Court on health grounds and was subsequently given two extensions.

He jumped bail and disappeared early this year. According to the conditions of his bail condition, he was supposed to surrender before jail authorities on 29 January this year, after his plea for a third extension was turned down by the court on 25 January.

While making his submission over quantum of sentence, Special Public Prosecutor RC Kodekar argued that since Dhobi was not present, the court could not sentence him under section 426 of the CrPC. Legally, the convict has to be present in the court when the sentence is pronounced.

(With PTI inputs)
Also Read: Gulbarg Massacre: Quantum of Sentence to Be Pronounced on 17 June