Journalist Gauri Lankesh Murder: SC Rejects Plea Challenging Bail Granted to Mohan Nayak

The Supreme Court has dismissed an appeal seeking the cancellation of bail granted to Mohan Nayak N, an accused in the 2017 murder case of journalist-turned-activist Gauri Lankesh.

A bench of Justice Bela M. Trivedi and Justice Satish Chandra Sharma declined to revoke Nayak’s bail, noting that he has cooperated with the trial and has not requested any adjournments to date. Mohan Nayak N had been in custody since July 18, 2018.

The court, however, directed the trial court to conduct the trial expeditiously and emphasized that all parties must cooperate with the trial court in concluding the proceedings.

“Under the circumstances, we are not inclined to interfere with the impugned orders passed by the High Court. However, it is directed that the trial court shall expeditiously conduct the trial, and all the parties shall cooperate with the trial court in concluding the trial,” the apex court stated.

The bench further stated that if the accused fails to cooperate or seeks unnecessary adjournments, an application can be filed to cancel his bail.

“It goes without saying that if the respondent—the accused—does not cooperate, asks for unnecessary adjournment(s), or breaches any condition, the State of Karnataka or the complainant shall be at liberty to apply for cancellation of bail, and if any such application is filed, the same shall be decided on its own merits and in accordance with the law. The Special Leave Petitions are dismissed accordingly,” the order added.

The Karnataka government and Gauri Lankesh’s sister, Kavitha Lankesh, had approached the apex court challenging the Karnataka High Court’s order dated December 7, 2023, which granted bail to Nayak, one of the accused in the case.

Gauri Lankesh was shot dead outside her home in Bengaluru on September 5, 2017. The police arrested 18 people in connection with the case.

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