‘Pakistan Zindabad’ slogan lynching: Why Karnataka High Court granted bail to accused despite ‘umpty’ injuries

Karnataka High Court Pakistan Zindabad Slogan Lynching Case Ruling: The Karnataka High Court granted bail to a man accused of mob-lynching a person to death for chanting “Pakistan Zindabad,” observing that even though parity is not absolute, similarly placed accused cannot be deprived of the relief granted to other co-accused.

Justice Shivashankar Amarannavar was hearing a plea of a man accused of mob-lynching a person of unsound mind to death for entering into a stadium and chanting “Pakistan Zindabad” during a cricket match that happened in 2025.

The court observed that the allegations against the petitioner and the other accused, who has been granted bail on the ground of using no weapons to assault the deceased, are the same.

There are 216 witnesses cited in the chargesheet, and to record their evidence and to complete the trial, considerable time is required. Therefore, the petitioner is entitiled for grant of bail on the ground of parity, the court held on February 10.