Noida: A sessions court in Greater Noida on Thursday rejected bail pleas filed by two men accused in the death of a 26-year-old who fell from the 19th floor of a residential tower following a late-night quarrel with friends.The order was passed by additional sessions judge Vikas Nagar in connection with the death of Manish Kumar, who died after falling from a flat in Paramount Society on the intervening night of Jan 14 and 15. Kumar’s body was found the following morning on the balcony of the second floor. Police initially suspected suicide, however, after complaints from Kumar’s family and witness statements, investigators registered a murder case under BNS sections 103(1) (murder) and 61(2) (criminal conspiracy) at Surajpur police station.Two of Kumar’s friends, Kapil Kumar and Rishabh Rathi, who were arrested on Jan 18, had moved the court seeking bail. After hearing arguments, the court rejected both applications. In its order, the court said the accused had failed to demonstrate that they were innocent or falsely implicated. Without commenting on the merits of the case, the judge observed that the allegations related to a serious offence and that the accused were among the last people seen with the victim before his death.“The accused failed to satisfy the court that they are innocent and falsely implicated in the case,” the court noted, adding that the circumstances did not justify granting bail at this stage.According to investigators, Kumar had been staying in a flat on the 19th floor with several friends, including Rishabh Bhati, Rishabh Rathi, Prince Bhati, Badal, and Kapil Kumar.According to the prosecution, a dispute broke out late that night after Kumar allegedly behaved inappropriately with Badal. The incident reportedly led to an argument involving several people in the apartment, which soon escalated into a physical fight. During the altercation, Kumar apparently toppled over the balcony.Police said the accused were present in the flat when Kumar fell. They also cited statements from the society’s watchman, who told police that Kumar had been seen entering the building with the accused shortly before the incident. CCTV footage of them arriving at the apartment is also part of the evidence.In its order, the court questioned the circumstances surrounding the fall. It noted that the accused had failed to explain how Kumar ended up falling from the balcony and why no one attempted to alert neighbours or take him to hospital, if the fall had been accidental.The court also referred to Badal’s statements, recorded during the investigation, which suggested that some of the accused had admitted to throwing Kumar from the balcony during the fight.“Co-accused Badal admitted that at around 3.15am, she, along with Kapil and Rishabh, threw Manish from the balcony with the intention of causing his death,” the court noted.
