Veteran Actor Suhasini Mulay Stands As Gautam Navlakha's Surety But NIA Court Finds House Arrest Above Public Library 'Not Safe'; Defers Release

Special Judge RJ Katariya noted NIA's objection against allowing Navlakha to undergo house arrest, citing safety and security concerns.

The agency claimed that the building "Com BT Randive Smruti Trust, Thane" in which Navlakha was to stay on the first floor had three exits, and there was no CCTV at the rear exit. Despite two entries to his first-floor accommodation there was only one CCTV camera. The NIA claimed that the entire building is a public library with a ground floor, hall on the first floor and an open terrace.

The agency claimed that the building was in the name of Secretary of Communist Party and he was the manager of the said building since last 25 to 30 years. The agency further argued that with the premises being a public library, having access to all, it would be very difficult to keep an eye on him.

"Since there is strong objection on the part of the prosecution for keeping the accused in the premises on the count of safety and security of the accused, it would not be proper to keep the accused in house arrest in the given premises," the court said in the order.

Advocate Yug Chaudhry along with advocate Chandni Chawla had informed the court that pursuant to the SC's order Rs. 2.4 lakhs were deposited with the Navi Mumbai Police Commissioner's office and CCTV cameras were also installed. A surety of Rs. 2 lakh had also appeared. Navlakha would be residing in the flat on the first floor and any more CCTV cameras that were required to be installed, would be installed.

The 73-year-old was granted house arrest for a month by the Supreme Court on November 10, 2022. He has been in jail since April 2020. In fact, yesterday, the Top Court exempted Navlakha from producing a solvency certificate.

According to Supreme Court's order, Navlakha is said to be suffering from serious ailments, including skin allergy and dental issues, and cited the need to undergo colonoscopy to test suspected cancer. He had approached the Top Court after the Bombay High Court rejected his prayer to be shifted to his sister's house.

The Special NIA court today noted that the NIA was also going to file a report of their evaluation of the premises in the Supreme Court. "It would not be appropriate to shift the accused no.11 in the given premises at this stage, until further necessary directions of the Hon'ble Apex Court, in view of serious objections on the part of prosecution."

On Wednesday, the court accepted Mulay as Navlakha's surety. Mulay informed the court that she knows the journalist for the last 30 years as both of them resided in Delhi. Navlakha is the editorial consultant of the Economic and Political Weekly in Delhi.