Elgar Parishad Case: Hany Babu Withdraws Bail Plea in Supreme Court

Delhi University’s associate professor Hany Babu withdrew his plea seeking bail in the Elgar Parishad-Maoist links case from the Supreme Court on Friday.

A bench of Justices Bela Trivedi and Pankaj Mithal acknowledged the submission of Babu’s lawyer, who mentioned that five other co-accused had already been granted bail in the case.

“The counsel for the petitioner states that there is a change in the circumstance and would not like to press the present petition and approach the high court,” noted the bench.

Respondents

Earlier, the top court had sought a response from the Maharashtra government and the NIA on his plea against an order of the Bombay High Court, which had rejected his bail plea.

On September 19, 2022, the high court had denied bail to Babu, as per records.

Co-conspirator

The NIA, conducting a probe into the case, has accused Babu of being a co-conspirator in propagating Maoist activities and ideology, allegedly on the instructions of leaders of the banned CPI (Maoist) organisation.

Babu, arrested in July 2020 in connection with the case, is currently incarcerated at the Taloja prison in Navi Mumbai.

Elgar Parishad Conclave

The case revolves around alleged inflammatory speeches delivered at the Elgar Parishad conclave held in Shaniwarwada, Pune, on December 31, 2017, which police claimed incited violence the following day near the Koregaon Bhima war memorial situated on the city’s outskirts. The violence resulted in one fatality and numerous injuries.

Initially investigated by the Pune Police, the case was later taken over by the NIA, with over a dozen activists and academicians named as accused.

Babu approached the High Court in June last year, challenging an order of the special NIA court, which had previously rejected his bail plea. In his plea, Babu argued that the special court had made an “error” in finding prima facie incriminating material against him.

Opposing the bail plea, the NIA contended that Babu had actively participated in activities promoting Naxalism and sought to overthrow the government.

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