Shimla, June 27
On June 26, 2024, the Himachal Pradesh High Court, under Justice Sandeep Sharma, directed Puranjan Thakur to surrender to the Bilaspur police by 10 am on Thursday.
This directive followed several hearings on Puranjan’s anticipatory bail application, which was not granted due to his repeated absences. Justice Sharma stressed the importance of investigating the origin of the weapon used in the June 20 court shooting incident, withholding a decision on bail until Puranjan complied with the surrender order.
Represented by N.S. Chandel, Puranjan’s defense faced significant opposition from the prosecution, led by Rajan Kahol, who pointed to Puranjan’s central role in the conspiracy. Despite several notices, Puranjan had remained in hiding, weakening his case for bail.
The June 20, 2024, shooting at the Bilaspur district court resulted in injuries to Saurabh Patial as unknown attackers opened fire. The incident caused chaos, with broken vehicle windows and increased security concerns. The Himachal Pradesh police promptly began an investigation, identifying Puranjan Thakur, son of former MLA Bambar Thakur, as the key figure behind the attack.
Sunny Gill, apprehended in connection with the shooting, admitted in police interigation that Puranjan had planned the incident. As a result, Puranjan was charged under Section 307 and the Arms Act. Despite multiple notices, Puranjan remained at large, prompting an intensified police search.
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