Drink-driving case: Gadkar granted bail, but can’t leave country

A session court on Wednesday granted bail to advocate Janhavi Gadkar who was earlier arrested over a drunk driving case which killed two people and injured a further four others.

Mumbai-based advocate Janhavi Gadkar, who had been arrested in a drink-driving case, was granted bail by a sessions court on Wednesday.

Janhavi-Gadkar-the-drunk-lawyer-who-rammed-her-Audi-into-the-taxi-in-Mumbai

While granting bail, sessions judge Sanjay Patil observed the investigation in the case is over and the objections raised by the prosecution “do not hold water”. The court also observed that because she was a woman, she had to be dealt with separately. “A woman has special status with respect to bail,” the court observed.

The court has granted bail to Gadkar on a surety of Rs 30,000. The court has asked her to cooperate with the investigation and visit the police station whenever she is called by the investigating officer.

As part of conditions for releasing her on bail, the court asked her not to tamper with evidence, not leave the country without its permission and to make herself available when the trial in the case begins.

One of the victims, Salim Sabuwala, 50, was present in court and expressed his anger and disappointment at the order.

Gadkar was released from Byculla jail around 7pm. Her mother, sister and lawyer were where there to receive her. When she stepped out, Gadkar, who had covered her face with a dupatta, first hugged her sister and climbed into a car. On June 9, Gadkar had crashed her Audi into a taxi while driving on the wrong side of the Eastern Freeway, killing two people and injuring four others.