A division bench of Justices V M Kanade and P D Kode directed the petitioner, an HIV-positive man, to submit a personal bond of Rs 5,000. He is the first person in the case to be granted bail after an appeal was filed in the High Court against the conviction.

The court today went through the medical report submitted by the civil hospital, which states that the petitioner’s ‘CD4 count’ had gone down to 196, and HIV infection was at ‘stage 2’, which requires constant medical attention. “Considering the report, it will be appropriate to release him on bail,” the court said.

The court has directed the petitioner to provide to the police his permanent address in Vadodara where he would be staying along with his contact number. Directing that he be released forthwith, the court also said that his condition would be reported to the nearest police station by his relatives once in two weeks.