Gujarat High Court has granted regular bail to former DGP R.B. Sreekumar in a case of fabricating evidence to frame people in connection with the 2002 riots, nearly two weeks after the Supreme Court allowed the bail plea of social activist Teesta Setalvad in the same case.

The court of Justice Ilesh Vora on Friday gave relief to Sreekumar, who is already out on interim bail, on a personal bond of Rs 25,000 and directed him to surrender his passport.

An interim bail is granted for a short period before the hearing for the grant of regular bail.

The high court had earlier rejected the bail plea of Setalvad, one of the three accused in the case registered by the Ahmedabad city crime branch under IPC sections that included 468 (forgery for the purpose of cheating) and 194 (giving or fabricating false evidence with intent to procure conviction for capital offence).

The Supreme Court granted her regular bail on July 19.

Granting bail to Sreekumar, the high court observed that the entire case is based on documentary evidence, which is in the custody of the investigating agency. It also said that the applicant was 75 years old and suffered from age-related ailments and nothing was reported against him that he misused his liberty during the interim bail.

“Thus, when the co-accused has been considered by the apex court and considering the role attributable to present applicant herein and for the above reasons, I am inclined to release the applicant on bail,” it said in its order.

The state government had opposed his bail plea saying the alleged offence is a “very heinous crime” and there is a prima-facie case against him and the role attributable to him in support of the charge.

An FIR was registered against Sreekumar, Setalvad and ex-IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt after the Supreme Court in June 2022 dismissed the plea of riot-bereaved Zakia Jafri alleging a “larger conspiracy”.