The Supreme Court of India has granted interim bail to activist Mahesh Raut, who is one of the accused in the Bhima-Koregaon case, allowing him to attend rituals following the death of his grandmother. The interim bail will be effective from June 26 to July 10, 2024.
A vacation bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and SVN Bhatti made the decision on Friday, considering the period of incarceration Raut has already undergone and the nature of his request. The bench specified that Raut must surrender without fail on July 10. The interim bail is subject to the terms and conditions set by the Special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court.
“Considering facts and circumstances, and period of incarceration already undergone, and the nature of the request made, we are inclined to grant interim bail of two weeks to the applicant (Raut), which may commence from June 26 and end on July 10. Terms and conditions of release will be stated by the NIA Special Court. NIA can request the trial court to impose stringent conditions. The applicant shall surrender on July 10,” stated the apex court in its order.
The National Investigation Agency opposed the 33-year-old Raut’s interim bail plea. However, during the last hearing, Raut’s counsel argued that the interim bail was sought to allow Raut to attend family rituals in Gadchiroli following his grandmother’s death.
Raut has been in judicial custody at Taloja prison since his arrest in June 2018. In September 2023, the Supreme Court extended the stay granted by the Bombay High Court on implementing its verdict that granted bail to Raut. This stay was in response to an appeal by the NIA against the Bombay High Court’s order dated September 21, 2023.
The Bhima-Koregaon case revolves around an event that took place in 2018, where provocative and inflammatory speeches were allegedly made, reportedly backed by the banned terror outfit CPI(M). These speeches are said to have incited violence in Koregaon Bhima village near Pune.
Sources By Agencies
