First accused in Murinkatte protest case gets High Court bail after nearly two months

Dharwad/Bhatkal: The Dharwad Bench of the Karnataka High Court has granted bail to one of the accused in the Murinkatte protest case, marking the first bail order in the case nearly two months after the incident.

Justice Anant Ramanath Hegde allowed the bail petition filed by Mohammad Iliyas, in connection with Crime No. 72/2026 registered at Bhatkal Town Police Station.

Iliyas had been booked under Sections 189(2), 191(2), 310(2), 126(2), 115(2), 352 read with Section 190 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The case is currently pending before the District and Sessions Court, Karwar.

He was represented before the High Court by advocates Arshad Balur and V.M. Banakar, who argued the bail petition on his behalf.

The Murinkatte protest case was registered following unrest in Bhatkal over the relocation of the historic Murinkatte structure during the National Highway-66 expansion works. Several persons were arrested in connection with the incident and have remained in judicial custody since then.

Sources said Iliyas chose to pursue his bail application through independent legal representation.

Meanwhile, the bail applications of several other accused in the same case, which are being coordinated by Majlis-e-Islah wa Tanzeem, Bhatkal, are expected to come up for hearing before the Dharwad Bench of the High Court on ٖFriday.

The detailed High Court order, including the conditions of bail, is awaited.