Gautam Navlakha
Leaders Online Desk: The Supreme Court on Monday granted bail to Gautam Navalkha in the Bhima Koregaon case. The Supreme Court on Tuesday allowed social activist Gautam Navalkha to come out on bail, lifting the stay on the Bombay High Court's order granting bail to social activist Gautam Navalkha in the Elgar Parishad case. He was kept under house arrest on the orders of the Supreme Court.
Justice M. M. Sundaresh and S. V. N Bhatti's bench also directed Navlakha to pay Rs 20 lakh towards the security expenses incurred during his detention.
“We are inclined not to extend the adjournment period as the order of the High Court while granting bail is detailed. The case will take years to complete. We will not extend the moratorium without falling into this. 20 lakhs should be paid to the opposite party at the earliest.” The court stated that.
Though Navlakha has been in jail for nearly four years, charges are yet to be framed in the case, observed the court. The Bombay High Court had granted bail to Navlakha on December 19, 2022. But the National Investigation Agency (NIA) stayed his bail order for three weeks after seeking time to file an appeal in the Supreme Court.
What is the charge?
In November 2022, the Supreme Court allowed Navlakha to be kept under house arrest and he is currently living in Navi Mumbai. He is accused of having links with the Elgar Parishad as well as the Naxalites. Navlakha was arrested in 2018. Earlier he was under house arrest. He was shifted to Taloja Jail in Navi Mumbai in April 2020 after Supreme Court orders. On November 10, 2022, the Supreme Court had approved Navlakha's petition to send him to house arrest citing health reasons.
Bhima Koregaon case: Supreme Court grants bail to activist Gautam Navlakha pic.twitter.com/hJE2BVM6QL
— ANI (@ANI) May 14, 2024
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