The Supreme Court declared today that there is no need to interfere with a Bombay High Court ruling giving bail to lawyeractivist Sudha Bharadwaj in the KoregaonBhima case, dismissing a petition brought by the National Investigation Agency. Sudha Bharadwaj, who has been in prison since 2018, was granted default bail this month by the Bombay High Court, which ruled that a court that continued the inquiry against her and prolonged her imprisonment lacked jurisdiction. In the judgment of the judge, S.S. Playa and N.J. However, Jamadar has required the NIA Mumbai Special Court to review the December 8 case and determine the conditions for release on bail and a release date.
Read also: DMK, other Oppn parties to approach Supreme Court over Puducherry local body polls
The NIA’s attorney, Additional Solicitor General Aman Lekhi, filed an appeal with the Supreme Court today, alleging that the High Court failed to examine important portions of the UAPA (Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967) when granting default bail. We found no reason to overturn the Supreme Court’s decision. The Koregaon Bhima case is believed to have sparked riots at the Elgar Parishad conference in Pune on December 31, 2017. It revolves around suspected inflammatory remarks, according to police, the next day near the military monument of Koregaon Bhima, on the outskirts of Pune.
According to Pune police, the conclave was reportedly supported by Maoists. Eventually, the investigation went to the National Intelligence Service (NIA). Sudha Bharadwaj is the first of 16 activists and scholars to be detained and basically bailed in connection with the case. Poet and activist Varavara Rao is currently on bail due to illness. Stan Swamy, a Jesuit priest, died on July 5 this year at a private hospital in the city while awaiting medical bail. On August 28, 2018, Sudha Bharadwaj was detained in connection with the case. On October 27, 2018, she was placed under house arrest and brought into jail.
Read also: US Supreme Court appears to be siding with new limits on abortion rights
She has been held in detention ever since, with the exception of two days in August 2019 when she was released on bail to attend her father’s funeral. The case stems from allegedly provocative comments spoken at the Elgar Parishad conference in Pune on December 31, 2017, which allegedly sparked rioting the next day near the Koregaon-Bhima.
