Man, 22, arrested for illegal stay at IIT Bombay hostels for 20 days, gets bail

The Esplanade Magistrate Court in Mumbai has granted bail to a 22-year-old man from Mangaluru, Karnataka, arrested for living in various hostels of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay for 20 days without being an enroled student there.

The man, identified as Bilal Ahmed Faiyaz Ahmed Teli, had reportedly stayed on campus between June 2 and 7, and again between June 10 and 19, posing as an IIT student.

He was eventually caught by an institute employee, Shilpa Kotikkal, who handed him over to the Powai police. Given the sensitivity of the case, the investigation was later transferred to the Mumbai Crime Branch.

Teli's bail plea alleged that he had been handed over to the police on June 17 itself but was kept in illegal detention for several hours before any formal action.

His legal team argued that Teli suffers from diminished mental abilities and has been clinically diagnosed with a learning disability, which affects his attention span, comprehension, memory and ability to learn.

The plea included copies of psychiatric evaluations and medical test reports showing that his intellectual functioning is below average. It also noted that Teli has been prescribed medication over time to manage his condition.

"To even remotely insinuate that the applicant is capable of committing any crime would be a travesty in light of the medical condition of the applicant," stated the plea.

During the hearing, the Crime Branch did not oppose the bail request. Considering the medical evidence and lack of resistance from investigators, the court granted Teli bail.

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