Gwalior HC Grants Bail to Anil Mishra on ₹1 Lakh Bond in Ambedkar Insult Case: FIR Stays, Strict Warnings Issued Amid Police Lapses

Gwalior- In a significant yet conditional relief, the Madhya Pradesh High Court at Gwalior today granted bail to Anil Kumar Mishra in the high-profile SC/ST Act case involving the alleged insult to Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. In Writ Petition No. 2/2026 (Anil Kumar Mishra vs. State of Madhya Pradesh and Others), the Division Bench of Justice G.S. Ahluwalia and Justice Ashish Shroti allowed the petition on grounds of police negligence, specifically, the arrest without formal notice, while making it clear that no merits of the case were examined. The FIR remains intact, the investigation and trial will proceed unimpeded, and Mishra faces no acquittal or clean chit.

Mishra, currently under arrest, will be released upon furnishing a personal bond of ₹1,00,000 with one surety of the same amount, to the satisfaction of the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM), Gwalior. He must also execute a bail bond as directed by the Executive Magistrate, City Center, Gwalior, under Sections 126 and 135 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). Critically, Mishra is required to submit an undertaking before the CJM affirming he will not engage in any actions prejudicial to law and order, echoing directives from a Division Bench at the Principal Seat in Jabalpur (WP No. 44542/2025). Standard bail conditions apply, with execution of the bond and undertaking as prerequisites for release. The Senior Superintendent of Police, Gwalior, has been ordered to expedite arrangements for compliance.

The court explicitly cautioned that any future acts by Mishra or his associates such as insulting Baba Saheb Ambedkar will invite immediate stringent action and direct imprisonment, underscoring the gravity of offenses against constitutional values and the dignity of the Bahujan Samaj. Observations in the order are limited to this petition, ensuring the ongoing probe remains unbiased. Two sealed pen drives containing alleged incident videos, submitted by Additional Advocate General Vivek Khedkar, were returned unopened, along with the case diary, as the bench refrained from delving into case merits.

Reacting to the verdict, activists and complainant representatives hailed it as a balanced step that educates on legal processes while prioritizing Ambedkar's honor and constitutional supremacy. They affirmed their fight against injustice continues, viewing the bail as procedural relief rather than exoneration. Police failure to robustly defend their actions has sparked speculation of lapses or deeper issues, though no formal inquiry was ordered.

This ruling follows intense hearings on January 4 and 5, where the complainant was impleaded and arguments concluded. Legal experts see it as a judicial tightrope: upholding due process without diluting atrocity laws. The case underscores rising tensions over hate crimes in Madhya Pradesh, with calls for stricter enforcement to prevent societal poison.