Bail Granted to Accused in Murder of 2 Bohra Women in Udaipur

Udaipur, Aug 8, 2025: The Rajasthan High Court on August 4 granted bail to the accused in the double murder of two elderly women from the Bohra community in Diamond Colony of Navratan Complex, Udaipur. The Court approved bail under Section 439 of CrPc (Code of Criminal Procedure). A provision is present in the law under Section 437 to grant bail to vulnerable individuals such as women, children and ailing people.

The accused, Maria (32), has been in jail for the past two years since November 2, 2023, the day of her arrest. The Court allowed the instant bail application under Section 439 Cr.P.C. on furnishing a personal bond in the sum of Rs 50,000 - with two sureties of Rs 25,000 each.

The Court approved Maria's bail application filed in the Rajasthan High Court, Jodhpur, on the plea that she may be granted bail in order to take care of her five-year-old son. In her petition, Maria had said her imprisonment has adversely affected the child's upbringing.

She had applied for bail previously which was rejected by the trial Court on December 19, 2024.

During the hearing, the Bench of Justice Farjand Ali observed that the petitioner is a young mother responsible for the upbringing of her small child. Her in-laws have passed away and the child is currently living with the maternal grandmother and grandfather who is a cancer patient. Given the woman’s young age, lack of socio-political influence and absence of any intention or action to interfere with the trial, the Court held that it would be unjust to keep her in jail solely on the basis of the seriousness of the charges and also keeping in mind that she does not have any prior criminal antecedents.

The Judge also noted that the record is devoid of any material or credible evidence suggesting that she poses any such threat to the trial process.

In his order, the Judge ruled “this Court is firmly persuaded that continued incarceration would be neither legally justified nor equitable. The paramount purpose of bail is not to operate as a mechanism of pre-trial punishment, but rather to ensure the accused’s presence during trial proceedings. Where such assurance can be reasonably and satisfactorily secured without recourse to incarceration, the denial of bail becomes legally untenable and constitutionally impermissible.”

Readers may recall that on October 27, 2023, two elderly sisters from the Bohra community — Hussaina Bai (75) and Sara Bai (80) — were murdered in the Diamond Colony of Navratan Complex. Maria, the daughter-in-law of their third sister, is an accused in the case.

In Udaipur, Maria is represented by advocate Salim Khan.