Introduction:

The Supreme Court, on January 17, directed the consolidation of activist Jyoti Jagtap’s bail plea with co-accused Shoma Kanti Sen’s appeal in the Bhima Koregaon case. Jagtap, accused under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, challenged the Bombay High Court’s denial of bail, asserting she has been in custody since September 2020. The court, comprising Justices Aniruddha Bose and Sanjay Kumar, opted for a joint hearing considering multiple appeals stemming from the same FIR in the Bhima Koregaon case.

Arguments of Both Sides:

Additional Solicitor General KM Nataraj informed the court about several appeals linked to the Bhima Koregaon FIR, urging a consolidated hearing. Justice Bose supported this approach, emphasizing the examination of evidence against each accused. Jagtap’s counsel, Aparna Bhat, expressed no objection to joint proceedings but raised concerns about prolonged incarceration.

Court’s Judgement:

The court, led by Justice Bose, ordered the amalgamation of Jagtap’s appeal with Sen’s for streamlined proceedings. Acknowledging the commonality in appeals, Justice Bose emphasized the convenience of a unified bench. The decision reflects the court’s commitment to a comprehensive evaluation of the cases related to the Bhima Koregaon incident.