Introduction:

In a recent development, the Supreme Court extended the stay on the bail granted to journalist and activist Gautam Navlakha until March. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) filed a petition against the Bombay High Court’s decision to grant Navlakha bail in connection with the Bhima Koregaon case. This case revolves around allegations of Navlakha having links with Maoist groups and instigating caste violence during the Bhima Koregaon incident in 2018.

Arguments of Both Sides:

Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing Navlakha, expressed dissatisfaction with the stay, arguing that it was granted without proper deliberation, thereby prolonging Navlakha’s detention despite the high court’s bail order. On the other hand, Additional Solicitor General SV Raju pressed for an extension of the interim stay, emphasizing the need to maintain the status quo until the case is thoroughly examined.

Court’s Judgement:

The bench of Justices MM Sundresh and SVN Bhatti, acceding to the request of Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, extended the temporary stay until the next hearing scheduled in the first week of March. This decision came after a series of legal exchanges and previous extensions of the interim stay imposed by the Bombay High Court.