Accused in Liquor Shop Shooting and Loot Case Granted Bail After Key Witnesses Turn Hostile
Media Report, Sonipat:

An accused involved in shooting two people, including a cashier, and looting ?1.5 lakh from a liquor shop has been granted bail by the court of Additional Sessions Judge Narendra Singh. Anil, a resident of Swaroop Nagar in Delhi, had been in judicial custody for the past two and a half years. After hearing arguments from both the defense and the prosecution, the court approved his bail plea. The decision came after the two main witnesses retracted their earlier statements regarding the robbery.

The incident took place on July 8, 2022. Atul, a resident of Sisana village, filed an FIR at Kharkhoda police station stating that his father operated a liquor shop in the village. Around 9:30 pm, he was present at the shop when Rajesh from Dubeta village arrived with two others. Rajesh pulled out a pistol and attempted to snatch money from the cashier.

When the cashier resisted, Rajesh opened fire. He and his accomplices fled after looting ?1.5 lakh. A total of three shots were fired—one hit Atul in the leg, and another struck the cashier, Asarfi Lal of Sisana, in the shoulder. Based on the FIR, police arrested the accused Anil on March 28, 2023.

Since then, Anil remained in jail and later applied for bail through his advocate. The defense argued that no money was recovered from him and highlighted that two key witnesses, Atul and Devender, had turned hostile in court, denying the loot after the shooting incident.

After hearing both sides, Judge Narendra Singh granted bail to the accused on the condition of furnishing a personal bond of ?1 lakh and a surety of the same amount.