Bhima Koregaon Case : Supreme Court Extends Stay Granted By Bombay HC On Mahesh Raut's Bail Till Oct 5, Admits NIA's Appeal

A bench comprising Justices Aniruddha Bose and Bela M Trivedi was hearing the central agency's special leave petition challenging the Bombay High Court’s September 21 judgment allowing Raut's bail application. Even while granting bail to Raut after noting that there was no prima facie evidence to attract the offences under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, the high court had kept in abeyance the operation of the order for a period of one week.

During the hearing today, Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, appearing for the NIA, insisted that there are incriminating letters that show the links of the accused with proscribed Maoist outfits. Justice Bose, in response, said that the bench would have to hear out the appeal, directing the hearing to be deferred until next Thursday.

At this juncture, ASG Raju urged the court to extend the stay granted by the Bombay High Court that was set to expire today. However, Senior Advocate Mihir Desai, appearing for the activist, objected to this suggestion. He told the bench that Raut, a former student of the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) and a Prime Minister Rural Development (PMRD) fellow, has already been in jail for over five and a half years since his arrest in June 2018. The senior counsel also submitted that this case was covered by the Supreme Court's recent judgment granting bail to co-accused Vernon Gonsalves and Arun Ferreira.

"One more week will not make much difference", ASG said, pressing for a stay. The bench acceded to his request and pronounced the following order, after this brief hearing -

"Leave granted. List on October 5. The stay already granted by Bombay High Court on the operation of the judgment and order shall continue until the next date of hearing."