The Bombay High Court yesterday granted bail to 16 individuals who were arrested in connection with the riots that erupted between two communities on January 22 this year during a procession in Mira Bhayander on the day of the Ram Mandir inauguration. These individuals had been in jail for the past 11 months.

The police initially arrested 24 people, including three minors, who the juvenile court released after notices were issued to their parents. One accused had secured bail from the session’s court a couple of months ago due to a lack of evidence. The remaining 20 individuals remained in judicial custody. After the charge sheet was filed, they applied for bail in the session’s court, but their applications were rejected. Subsequently, they appealed to the Bombay High Court, which approved bail for 16 of them yesterday.