A Division Bench, headed by Justice Naresh Patil, asked Purohit to approach the trial court with a fresh bail plea. The trial court should hear it expeditiously, if possible within six weeks, the HC said.
The judges also asked the lower court to consider the supplementary charge-sheet filed by the National Investigation Agency, where it has dropped the charges under stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act.
The ‘new material’ in the supplementary charge sheet should be taken into account by the trial court while hearing the bail plea, the HC said.
Purohit had argued that he was in jail for more than seven years and as NIA had concluded the investigation, he should be set free on bail.
The trial court has consistently refused bail to Purohit since 2010. His last bail plea was rejected in October last year, following which he moved the High Court.