The Bombay High Court on Tuesday dismissed bail applications of Rajesh Dhakal Rao, Sunil Satya Shantaram Dalvi, Sajanya Barkya Burkud, and Vinod Ramu Rao. These four have been jailed for over five years in the 2020 Palghar lynching case. The case involves the killing of two seers, Kalpavrikshagiri Maharaj and Sushilgiri Maharaj, and their driver, Nilesh Telgade, during the COVID-19 lockdown. About 400-500 villagers attacked them, wrongly thinking they were child abductors. Police who tried to stop the mob were also assaulted. The FIR charges include murder, rioting, criminal conspiracy, assault on public servants, and violations under the Disaster Management and Epidemic Diseases Acts. Lawyers for the accused said it was a sudden mob attack without intent to kill and highlighted that 42 co-accused were already out on bail. They also argued that the key video evidence was weak. However, Special Public Prosecutor Amit Munde for the CBI countered with strong proof. He said Rao carried an iron axe, damaged the victims' vehicle, and attacked police personnel. Dalvi threw stones, pushed a police officer, and recorded the violence on his phone. Burkud and Rao also used sticks to hit the victims and stirred the crowd. Witnesses confirmed their active roles. Medical reports showed police injuries and victims' fatal skull fractures and brain hemorrhages. Justice Neela Gokhale noted that bail granted to some co-accused cannot decide this case. She said, "Liberty of an individual is precious… but cannot be absolute." She quoted that liberty must balance the victim's family's and society's interests. Given the charge of murder punishable with life or death, five years in jail is not "long". Thus, bail was denied. The court asked the CBI, which took over investigating in August 2025, to finish its probe soon. The accused may apply for bail again after the CBI reports to trial court.