The District and Sessions Court at Merces has granted conditional bail to five accused in the 2025 assault on social activist Rama Kankonkar at Caranzalem, on parity with two others who were released earlier. The five accused released on bail are Manish Hadfadkar, Anthony Nadar, Francis Nadar, Minguel Araujo and Franco D’Costa. Each has been directed to furnish a personal bond of ₹1 lakh and a surety of the same amount. Suresh Naik and Sairaj Govekar had been released earlier, counsel said. Meanwhile, the alleged prime accused Zenito Cardozo has challenged the framing of charges in the case, before the High Court, which had stayed further proceedings in the case. The High Court, however, permitted the bail applications to be considered.
