In Brief
Somnath Jagannath Deokar was convicted of arson (burning a house) under Section 436 IPC and of committing atrocities against a Scheduled Caste person under the Prevention of Atrocities Act, receiving ten years and life sentences respectively. The Supreme Court, considering that his co-accused had already been granted bail, he had spent two years in custody, and his High Court appeal would not be heard soon, granted him bail pending the appeal. The trial court was empowered to impose appropriate conditions upon release.
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