((-1-)) mst IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION CRIMINAL WRIT PETITION NO.1490 OF 2008 Ashraful Rehman Azimullah Petitioner versus The State of Maharashtra & ors. Respondents Ms.A.M.Z.Ansari for petitioner. Mrs.A.S.Pai, APP. CORAM : BILAL NAZKI AND A.A.KUMBHAKONI, JJ. DATE : 21st August 2008 PC : 1. The petitioner is undergoing sentence of imprisonment for life. He made an application for grant of furlough leave which has been rejected by the DIG on the ground that he is an accused in Bombay Blast Case and also on the ground that the Government did not consent for grant of furlough to the petitioner. It is also stated in the order that the people are sensitive about the whole episode relating to Bombay blast case. Therefore, he could not be granted furlough. 2. The petitioner contends that he was ((-2-)) arrested by Police on 27th March 1993. He was accused no.73 in Bombay Blast Case No.1/1993. On 5th December 1995 he was granted bail and he remained on bail till the judgement was pronounced and he was convicted on 13th January 2007. For twelve years he remained on bail during trial. He did not misuse the bail nor anybody else became furious about his release on bail. He remained for twelve years on bail and no problem of law and order was experienced at any stage. After he was convicted by the Designated Court, he was granted bail by the Supreme Court when the judgement was not made available to him by the Designated Court. After the judgement was made available, the Supreme Court cancelled his bail and again he surrendered and he is serving the sentence. Even during this period nothing at all happened as claimed by the authorities. 3. In this view of the matter we feel that there is no reason for the respondents to reject the application of the petitioner for grant of furlough leave on the grounds mentioned in the impugned order. 4. Therefore, we set aside the impugned order ((-3-)) dated 31st January 2008 and allow the writ petition. We direct that the petitioner be released on furlough leave on conditions to be imposed by the respondents. (BILAL NAZKI, J.) (A.A.KUMBHAKONI, J.)