Bombay HC grants bail to Elgaar Parishad accused Gautam Navlakha

The Bombay High Court has granted bail to the Elgaar Parishad case accused Gautam Navlakha on December 19. The court also stayed NIA's move to knock at the Supreme Court door against the bail granted to the social activist.

The court allowed the bail appeal of Navlakha, a journalist and rights activist, against the special court order that had denied him bail.

The NIA has sought a six-week stay on the order, however, the HC bench comprising of Justice Ajey S Gadkari and Shivkumar G Dige granted only three weeks' time to the central probe agency.

Since his arrest in April 14, 2020, Navlakha has been in custody. Out of 16 accused in the Elgaar Parishad case, Navlakha is the seventh accused who has been granted bail either by the Supreme Court or a high court.

The two-judge bench concluded the hearing on November 7 and gave the verdict on December 19.

Setting aside the September 5, 2022 order of the special court, the HC asked the special judge to restore Navlakha's bail application and reserve a decision within four weeks.

16 people were accused in the Elgar Parishad case of which nine were arrested by Pune police and seven others were arrested by the NIA after the investigation agency took over the case.