Based on a plea submitted by activist Mahesh Raut, who has been accused of being involved in Elgar Parishad-Maoist links case, the Supreme Court on June 14th ordered the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to get directions regarding his request for an interim bail to perform some rituals after his grandmother’s death.
The vacation bench comprising Justices Sanjay Kumar and Augustine George Masih adjourned the matter for hearing next week.
“So what else is remaining? You have not told us when they would be,” said the bench to Mr.Raut’s counsel. Senior advocate Mihir Desai who represented him argued that this is an interim bail application meant to go to Gadchiroli for post-death ceremonies of his grandmother.
The apex court had earlier granted a stay order against its pronouncement allowing Raut’s release on bail last year September as issued by Bombay High Court.
On September 21st, 2020, NIA moved to challenge a High Court verdict dated the same day that had admitted bail application of Raut aged 33 arrested in June,2018 and currently held at Taloja prison under judicial custody.
Upon pronouncing its judgment on September 21st, Bombay High Court lawyer representing NIA had sought staying the operation of its order so that it could make an appeal before Supreme Court. The case pertained to Elgar Parishad conclave which took place in Pune during December31st2017 supported by Maoists as per Pune Police records.
According to police, inflammatory statements made there resulted into violence at Koregaon-Bhima war memorial in Pune next day. Later, NIA investigated this matter.
