Two accused in the murder of journalist and activist Gauri Lankesh were granted bail by a special court on October 9. Following their release, Parshuram Waghmore and Manohar Jadhav received a grand welcome from local Hindu organizations. This celebration positioned them not as murder suspects but as heroes for their cause.
Initially, Parshuram and Manohar were arrested for allegedly shooting Gauri Lankesh. After spending six years in prison, the Bengaluru Sessions Court finally granted them bail, leading to their release from Parappana Agrahara Jail on October 11.
Upon their arrival in their hometown of Vijayapura, they were greeted with garlands and orange shawls. Moreover, drums were played in their honor, and they paid tribute at the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji. Subsequently, they worshipped at the Kalki temple. Their supporters claimed they were wrongfully imprisoned throughout this ordeal.
In addition to Parshuram and Manohar, several others—including Amol Kale, Rajesh, Basudev, Rusikesh, Ganesh, Miskin, and Amit—were also granted bail on October 9.
Furthermore, a prominent leader from the Hindu organization stated, “Today is Vijayadashami, a significant day for us. We warmly welcomed Parshuram and Manohar, who were unjustly imprisoned for six years in connection with Gauri Lankesh’s murder. Importantly, the real culprits remain at large, yet they were targeted because of their affiliation with our organization. Their families have suffered greatly, and such injustices must be thoroughly investigated.”
On September 5, 2017, Gauri Lankesh, a senior journalist known for her left-wing beliefs, was shot dead by three assailants outside her home in Bengaluru, which sparked nationwide outrage.