The Supreme Court of India&nbsp;on Tuesday (May 14)&nbsp;granted bail&nbsp;to Gautam Navlakha, an accused in the Bhima Koregaon violence case, observing that the trial is unlikely to end&nbsp;soon.

A bench comprising Justices M M Sundresh and S V N Bhatti refused to extend the stay imposed by the Bombay High Court in December 2023 on its bail order. The court also stipulated that Navlakha must pay Rs 20 lakh to cover security expenses during his house arrest.

The bench pointed out that Navlakha has been in custody for over four years, the trial involves 370 witnesses, six co-accused have already been granted bail, and charges have yet to be framed.

“Prima facie we are of the view that there is no need to extend the interim order of bail. The appellant has been in incarceration for more than four years and charges are yet to be framed…the High Court by detailed order has deemed fit to grant bail. The trial would take years and years and years to complete…Thus…we are not inclined to extend the stay,” the court said and asked Navlakha to cooperate with the trial.

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The court was addressing an appeal from the NIA challenging the high court's decision to grant Navlakha bail. The NIA's counsel argued that the allegations against Navlakha were serious and noted that not all co-accused had been granted bail.

While granting Navlakha bail, the high court had said that “no covert or overt terrorist act has been attributed to him under Section 15 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967”.&nbsp;

Navlakha was placed under house arrest in Navi Mumbai under strict conditions following a November 2022 Supreme Court directive, citing his claimed poor health.

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Although the special NIA court, in denying Navlakha's bail request, had indicated initial evidence of a connection between him and Syed Gulam Nabi Fai—convicted by a US court in 2012 for ties to the Pakistani intelligence agency ISI—the high court stated this had no bearing on the current case. According to the NIA, Navlakha had communicated with the US court seeking leniency for Fai.

(With inputs from agencies)

The Supreme Court of India on Tuesday (May 14) granted bail to Gautam Navlakha, an accused in the Bhima Koregaon violence case, observing that the trial is unlikely to end soon.

The Supreme Court of India on Tuesday (May 14) granted bail to Gautam Navlakha, an accused in the Bhima Koregaon violence case, observing that the trial is unlikely to end soon. A bench comprising Justices M M Sundresh and S V N Bhatti refused to extend the stay imposed by the Bombay High Court in December 2023 on its bail order. The court also stipulated that Navlakha must pay Rs 20 lakh to cover security expenses during his house arrest. The bench pointed out that Navlakha has been in custody for over four years, the trial involves 370 witnesses, six co-accused have already been granted bail, and charges have yet to be framed. “Prima facie we are of the view that there is no need to extend the interim order of bail. The appellant has been in incarceration for more than four years and charges are yet to be framed…the High Court by detailed order has deemed fit to grant bail. The trial would take years and years and years to complete…Thus…we are not inclined to extend the stay,” the court said and asked Navlakha to cooperate with the trial. Also read | Mumbai hoarding collapse: India's largest as per Limca Book of Records, the billboard wasn't cleared by BMC The court was addressing an appeal from the NIA challenging the high court's decision to grant Navlakha bail. The NIA's counsel argued that the allegations against Navlakha were serious and noted that not all co-accused had been granted bail. While granting Navlakha bail, the high court had said that “no covert or overt terrorist act has been attributed to him under Section 15 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967”. Navlakha was placed under house arrest in Navi Mumbai under strict conditions following a November 2022 Supreme Court directive, citing his claimed poor health. Also watch | PM Modi files nomination from Varanasi Although the special NIA court, in denying Navlakha's bail request, had indicated initial evidence of a connection between him and Syed Gulam Nabi Fai—convicted by a US court in 2012 for ties to the Pakistani intelligence agency ISI—the high court stated this had no bearing on the current case. According to the NIA, Navlakha had communicated with the US court seeking leniency for Fai. (With inputs from agencies)

Bhima Koregaon case: India’s top court grants bail to Gautam Navlakha, says trial may ‘take years'

Anand Teltumbde, an accused in Bhima Koregaon case, has been arrested by Pune Police from Mumbai early morning on Saturday.

The Pune Sessions Court on Friday rejected an anticipatory bail application of the activist and professor.

"In my view, there is sufficient material collected by the investigating officer to show the involvement of the present accused in the alleged commission of the offence. Moreover, investigation in respect of present applicant/accused is at (a) very crucial stage," said an order pronounced by special judge KD Vadane.

Presently, he has been kept at Ville Parle police station in Mumbai.

Last month, the Supreme Court dismissed Teltumbde`s plea seeking quashing of an FIR registered against him by the Pune Police in connection with the Bhima-Koregaonviolence.

On January 1 last year, violence had erupted during the 200th-anniversary celebrations of Bhima-Koregaon battle, leaving one dead and several injured. 
&nbsp;

Anand Teltumbde, an accused in Bhima Koregaon case, has been arrested by Pune Police from Mumbai early morning on Saturday. The Pune Sessions Court on Friday rejected an anticipatory bail application of the activist and professor.

Anand Teltumbde, an accused in Bhima Koregaon case, has been arrested by Pune Police from Mumbai early morning on Saturday. The Pune Sessions Court on Friday rejected an anticipatory bail application of the activist and professor. "In my view, there is sufficient material collected by the investigating officer to show the involvement of the present accused in the alleged commission of the offence. Moreover, investigation in respect of present applicant/accused is at (a) very crucial stage," said an order pronounced by special judge KD Vadane. Presently, he has been kept at Ville Parle police station in Mumbai. Last month, the Supreme Court dismissed Teltumbde`s plea seeking quashing of an FIR registered against him by the Pune Police in connection with the Bhima-Koregaonviolence. On January 1 last year, violence had erupted during the 200th-anniversary celebrations of Bhima-Koregaon battle, leaving one dead and several injured.

Activist Anand Teltumbde accused in Bhima Koregaon case arrested at Mumbai airport

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday welcomed the Supreme Court's refusal to interfere with the probe by the state police against five Left-wing activists in connection with violence in Koregaon- Bhima in December last year.

Fadnavis said the decision of the top court proved that there was no conspiracy behind action by the state police against Varavara Rao, Arun Ferreira, Vernon Gonsalves, Sudha Bharadwaj and Gautam Navlakha.

The five are under arrest at their respective homes since August 29.

Fadnavis was reacting soon after the Supreme Court declined to appoint an SIT to probe the arrest of the five activists by the Pune police.

The court said the arrests were not because of dissent of activists but there was prima facie material to show their link with banned CPI (Maoist) organisation.

The three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra, in a 2:1 verdict, refused the plea seeking the immediate release of the activists.

"The Supreme Court has vindicated the state of the government and the Pune police. The court has no doubt over the material evidence submitted," the chief minister told reporters here.

"A conspiracy against the nation has been unearthed by the police," he said on the arrest of the five activists.

According to the Supreme Court order, the government will go to the "appropriate forum" in the case, he said.

Fadnavis also defended the state police for addressing a press conference after the arrest, which had been come in for criticism. 
"A lot of things were said against the police after the arrest and an atmosphere was created by pseudo, so-called neo-liberals in the media that the arrests have been made without evidence. The police had to say that the arrests were not motivated but backed by real and powerful evidence," he said.

"We will look into the fine print of the order regarding the police press conference. The press conference is not important but the real issue of conspiracy against the nation is. If holding the press conference was wrong, we will improve it," he said.

Fadnavis said political parties should not support the arrested persons for political reasons after the SC verdict, "otherwise the political parties will stand exposed."

Prominent Telugu poet Rao was arrested on August 28 from Hyderabad, while activists Gonsalves and Ferreira were nabbed from Mumbai, trade union activist Sudha Bharadwaj from Faridabad in Haryana and civil liberties activist Navlakha from Delhi.

The majority verdict by the Supreme Court said the protection of house arrest of the activists will remain in force for four more weeks to enable the accused to seek appropriate legal remedy at appropriate legal forum.&nbsp;

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday welcomed the Supreme Court's refusal to interfere with the probe by the state police against five Left-wing activists in connection with violence in Koregaon- Bhima in December last year.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday welcomed the Supreme Court's refusal to interfere with the probe by the state police against five Left-wing activists in connection with violence in Koregaon- Bhima in December last year. Fadnavis said the decision of the top court proved that there was no conspiracy behind action by the state police against Varavara Rao, Arun Ferreira, Vernon Gonsalves, Sudha Bharadwaj and Gautam Navlakha. The five are under arrest at their respective homes since August 29. Fadnavis was reacting soon after the Supreme Court declined to appoint an SIT to probe the arrest of the five activists by the Pune police. The court said the arrests were not because of dissent of activists but there was prima facie material to show their link with banned CPI (Maoist) organisation. The three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra, in a 2:1 verdict, refused the plea seeking the immediate release of the activists. "The Supreme Court has vindicated the state of the government and the Pune police. The court has no doubt over the material evidence submitted," the chief minister told reporters here. "A conspiracy against the nation has been unearthed by the police," he said on the arrest of the five activists. According to the Supreme Court order, the government will go to the "appropriate forum" in the case, he said. Fadnavis also defended the state police for addressing a press conference after the arrest, which had been come in for criticism. "A lot of things were said against the police after the arrest and an atmosphere was created by pseudo, so-called neo-liberals in the media that the arrests have been made without evidence. The police had to say that the arrests were not motivated but backed by real and powerful evidence," he said. "We will look into the fine print of the order regarding the police press conference. The press conference is not important but the real issue of conspiracy against the nation is. If holding the press conference was wrong, we will improve it," he said. Fadnavis said political parties should not support the arrested persons for political reasons after the SC verdict, "otherwise the political parties will stand exposed." Prominent Telugu poet Rao was arrested on August 28 from Hyderabad, while activists Gonsalves and Ferreira were nabbed from Mumbai, trade union activist Sudha Bharadwaj from Faridabad in Haryana and civil liberties activist Navlakha from Delhi. The majority verdict by the Supreme Court said the protection of house arrest of the activists will remain in force for four more weeks to enable the accused to seek appropriate legal remedy at appropriate legal forum.

Maharashtra CM welcomes SC decision on activists' arrest