PANAJI
The Bombay High Court at Goa on Thursday allowed Vikat Bhagat, currently in jail facing trial for the murder of Irish tourist Danielle McLaughlin back in 2017, to be present for his sister’s wedding at Fatorda which is scheduled for February 24.
Bhagat will be taken to the wedding venue under police escort and be taken back to jail after the ceremony concludes, the High Court ruled while disposing of his application for bail.
“The applicant shall be taken in police escort on 24/02/2024 at the marriage venue which is at Fatorda during the morning time and after the marriage ceremony is over should be handed over back to the jail authorities.
"The petitioner shall pay the necessary escort charges and the petitioner through his relatives shall make necessary arrangements for one private vehicle for himself and the police,” the single bench judge of Justice Bharat Deshpande ruled.
Bhagat, who is accused of befriending McLaughlin before murdering her with a stone at an isolated place in Palolem, Canacona had earlier applied for bail before the Sessions Court which rejected his application.
Bhagat has been in jail ever since his arrest and had earlier applied for bail on grounds of the prolonged nature of the trial, which was denied after the court observed that he was delaying the trial.
