Bhima Koregaon Case: SC Extends Stay on Bail for Activist Gautam Navlakha

The Supreme Court on Friday extended the stay imposed by the Bombay High Court on the implementation of its order granting bail to activist Gautam Navlakha in the Elgar Parishad-Maoist links case.

A bench comprising Justices M M Sundresh and S V N Bhatti additionally directed the Supreme Court’s Registry to present the National Investigation Agency’s (NIA) plea to Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud for a decision on associating the petition with cases involving other accused.

The Supreme Court, without expressing a stance on the case’s merits, declared its unwillingness to make any statements. The Bombay High Court, on December 19 of the preceding year, had granted bail to Navlakha but deferred its implementation for three weeks following the NIA’s request for time to file an appeal in the Supreme Court.

Gautam Navlakha, detained in August 2018, had been permitted by the Supreme Court in November of the prior year to be under house arrest. Presently residing in Navi Mumbai, the activist’s situation revolves around alleged inflammatory speeches during the Elgar Parishad conclave in Pune on December 31, 2017. Authorities claim these speeches incited violence near the Koregaon-Bhima war memorial on the outskirts of Pune the following day.

In connection with this case, 16 activists have faced arrests, with five of them presently granted bail.