Seventeen people who were accused of killing journalist Gauri Lankesh back in 2017 are now out on bail. A judge in Bengaluru let the last person out on January 8th. This follows earlier decisions to let seven others out last summer. All together eighteen people are linked to the case but one person named Vikas Patil is still on the run.
These individuals are facing charges for the murder of Gauri Lankesh who was well known for her journalism and activism. Her killing has caused a lot of attention in India. The court case has been going on for a while and now with the majority of accused out on bail, its a new stage in this legal process. Judges considered how long they had been held and how long the case could take when they made their decisions.
Now that seventeen people are out on bail there are some concerns. People are wondering how fast the trial will go and if witnesses might be influenced. Even though bail is a legal right the number of people released in this case makes people question how it will all work out. The long delay in finding justice for Gauri Lankesh’s murder is still an issue and its been criticised by many groups. The fact that the last suspect hasn’t been caught yet is also a worry.