HAVERI: Armed with bail after spending 17 months in Haveri sub-jail in a 2024 gang-rape case, seven accused returned home in a cavalcade of 25-plus vehicles, with their supporters shouting slogans, flashing victory sign and clearing the traffic on May 20.According to now-viral videos, the seven accused travelled from Haveri sub-jail in Keremathihalli to Akkialur, a village in Hanagal taluk – a distance of nearly 30km – in high-end cars and souped-up bikes.The videos show some of the rape accused waving to people and other motorists on the way all through their hour-long drive home.Some supporters in cars and on bikes are seen making videos on phones, which carry captions: ‘Bhai log return’ and ‘come home’.The accused, charged under IPC Section 376D, secured bail from Haveri additional district and sessions (FTSC-1) court on Tuesday. Of the seven, four accused were re-arrested on charges of violating bail conditions and sent back to the Haveri sub-jail. Other three are absconding.The four re-arrested are: Samiwulla Lalanavar 28, Mohammad Sadiq Agasimani 30, Shoib Mulla 20, and Riyaz Savikeri, 32. The absconding are: Aftab Chandanakatti, 24, Madar Saab Mandakki, 23, and Tausip Choti, 24.Haveri SP Anshu Kumar Srivastava confirmed the videos. He said an FIR has been registered against them. An investigation officer has submitted a petition to court seeking cancellation of their bail, the SP added.Other 12 accused in gangrape case got bail last year The seven accused – all from Akkialur village – were in judicial custody since their arrest in the gang-rape case of a 26-year-old woman in Jan 2024. The survivor, who was with a male companion in a hotel room, said she was dragged to a forested area near Nalkuru Cross of Hangal taluk and sexually assaulted by all seven accused.According to police, the survivor had identified the seven suspects during an identification parade and given a statement to the magistrate. Initially, the incident was reported as a case of moral policing and an assault on an interfaith couple in a private lodge, but police added the gangrape charge based on the survivor’s statement. In all, 19 men had been taken into custody. The other 12 accused, allegedly involved in aiding and abetting the crime or physically assaulting the survivor, secured bail about 10 months ago.
