Dr Lahane gets anticipatory bail in Atrocity Act case

The sessions court here today granted anticipatory bail to Dr T P Lahane, the Dean of the government-run J J Hospital, who is accused of making a casteist remark against a sweeper employed with the hospital.
"The court granted anticipatory bail to Dr T P Lahane on a bond of Rs 15,000," his advocate Swapna Kode said.
Dr Lahane, a noted ophthalmologist and a Padma Shri awardee, is facing a criminal complaint under the SC/ST Atrocities (Prevention) Act after Narayan Waghela, a sweeper, accused him of hurling a casteist abuse last month.
Lahane denied the allegations and moved the court for pre-arrest bail.

According to the complaint filed by Waghela on February 14, Lahane got into argument with him when the former asked another sweeper to stop working as all the temporary Class IV employees were on strike.
Lahane had earlier approached the Bombay High Court seeking anticipatory bail, and also quashing of the case.
The High Court, however, directed him to approach the sessions court first.