‘Face not visible’: Gujarat woman convicted of acid attack in burqa gets bail

The Gujarat High Court has suspended the 10-year sentence of Mahezbinbanu Chhuvara, a woman accused of an acid attack in a burqa, due to lack of concrete evidence identifying her. Chhuvara was convicted of assaulting Rakesh Brahmbhatt, a bus conductor, in Ahmedabad in January 2024. The prosecution claimed she threw acid at Brahmbhatt after he ended his relationship with her.

However, the court noted gaps in the prosecution's evidence, such as not seizing the clothes and gloves allegedly worn by Chhuvara. The court also pointed out that CCTV footage did not show Chhuvara's face clearly. Chhuvara's sentence will remain suspended until the court rules on her appeal. She has spent eight months in prison and will be released on bail if she posts a fresh bond of Rs 15,000 with one surety.