Bhima-Koregaon accused gets interim relief from arrest

When the writ petition of Navlakha — seeking quashing of the FIR against him by the Pune police in connection with Bhima- Koregaon violence — came up for hearing , his advocate informed the court that he needed some time to make additional submissions on behalf of his client.

The Bombay high court (HC) on Friday extended interim relief from arrest to activist Gautam Navlakha — accused in Bhima-Koregaon violence — till May 2, despite the state seeking removal of the protection as it was allegedly hampering the investigations.

The Bombay high court (HC) on Friday extended interim relief from arrest to activist Gautam Navlakha. (Hindustan Times)

When the writ petition of Navlakha — seeking quashing of the FIR against him by the Pune police in connection with Bhima- Koregaon violence — came up for hearing before the bench of justices Ranjit More and Bharati Dangre, his advocate Dr Yug Choudhary informed the court that he needed some time to make additional submissions on behalf of his client. However, additional public prosecutor Aruna Pai, on behalf of the state, objected to the same. She stated that Navlakha has been seeking an extension of the protection by giving similar excuses every time. Pai, who was willing to make her submission, said that she was ready with her arguments. When the court did not permit her, she sought the removal of the interim protection. “Investigations are on but the interim protection is hampering it. Hence, even if the court is acceding to Navlakhas’s request for the time, the protection should be removed,” submitted Pai. The court did not accept her submissions and said that it would hear the plea on May 2 and till then the interim protection from arrest would continue.

Navlakha, along with seven others, was named in the FIR registered by Pune police for inciting violence at Bhima-Koregaon in 2018, in which a person died and several others were injured.