HC grants bail to Pune student held for post on India-Pak. conflict

The Bombay High Court on Tuesday granted bail to a 19-year-old Pune student arrested for a social media post related to the India-Pakistan confrontation.

The court also came down heavily on the Maharashtra government for its “radical” response to her actions.

A Vacation Bench of Justices Gauri Godse and Somasekhar Sundaresan was hearing a petition by the second-year engineering student at Pune’s Sinhgad Academy of Engineering who was lodged in Yerwada Central Jail. Following her arrest, the college had rusticated the student.

In a detailed order, the court said, “This is absolutely shocking... that after she deleted the post, the FIR was lodged against her on May 9, 2025.” The court stated that the student had been treated like a “hardcore criminal” and questioned whether the police were “bent upon ruining the girl’s life”. The court also said that her arrest should not have occurred, especially since she had promptly deleted the post, expressed remorse, and apologised.

“This is not a case where the girl has to remain in custody anymore,” the Bench said, directing her release from jail on Tuesday itself to enable her to appear for her college exams.

Rustication suspended

The court also suspended the rustication order issued by the Sinhgad Academy of Engineering, and instructed the college to provide her with a hall ticket. It cautioned the student to act responsibly in the future and refrain from uploading such posts.

Published - May 28, 2025 12:48 am IST