Bhima Koregaon: Supreme Court expresses reservations over earlier order to allow plea by Gautam Navlakha for house arrest

The Supreme Court on Friday orally remarked that it may have reservations over its earlier decision to allow the plea filed by Bhima Koregaon violence accused Gautam Navlakha to shift him from jail and place him under house arrest [Gautam Navlakha vs National Investigation Agency and anr]. .A bench of Justices MM Sundresh and JB Pardiwala said that the order in question, which was passed by another bench of the top court, did not deal with the merits of the overall case and proceedings against Navlakha."We may have our own reservations, prima facie, but we will not say anything. Quite a lengthy order was passed. But without getting into merits if such an order is made applicable to everyone then," Justice Sundresh remarked.The Court was hearing an application filed by Navlakha to change his address, in view of the earlier order for his house arrest.Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, appearing for the National Investigation Agency (NIA), said that the earlier ruling was unusual. He argued that house arrest was granted on health grounds, which was unwarranted.The top court eventually adjourned the matter by eight weeks, granting time to the central agency to file its reply to an application by Navlakha. Navlakha was given the liberty to file a rejoinder to the Centre's reply..The ASG today also asserted that Navlakha is yet to pay up at least 25 per cent of the dues to cover the expenses of his security cover, which amounted to ₹ 1.1 crore according to the local police.Appearing for Navlakha, Senior Advocate Nitya Ramakrishnan, refuted the allegation and pointed out that no break-up of such dues has been provided.The bench today did not pass any order on the same..The top court had in April directed the activist to pay another ₹8 lakh to the Maharashtra Police as security expenses during his house arrest.Ramakrishnan today told the Court that the said amount has been paid.On November 10 last year, the Supreme Court had allowed a plea filed by Navlakha to be shifted from jail to house arrest for a month, which has since been extended.In that order, passed by a bench of Justices KM Joseph (since retired) and Hrishikesh Roy, the Supreme Court also directed that Navlakha shall not be permitted to use computers, the internet or any other communication device while under house arrest.It, however, said that television and newspapers will be allowed in the house provided they are not internet-based. There should be CCTVs at entrance exit and and outside the rooms of the residence, the Court added.Navlakha, a former Secretary of the People's Union for Democratic Rights, was arrested in August 2018 in connection with the Bhima Koregaon violence case.He was initially placed under house arrest, but later moved to Taloja Central Prison in Maharashtra in April 2020 after a Supreme Court order..In May 2021, the Supreme Court dismissed his plea for default bail.Navlakha later moved the Bombay High Court pointing out that he was being denied basic medical aid and other necessities in Taloja and was suffering great hardships at his advanced age.The Bombay High Court, however, rejected the plea, prompting the an appeal before apex court. The top court had allowed the plea subject to various safeguards. The order has since been extended..Gautam Navlakha part of urban naxal movement which arranges manpower, funds for rural naxal struggle: NIA to Bombay High Court .Last June, while arguing in an case before Supreme Court concerning the arrest of Tamil Nadu Minister, Senthil Balaji, Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta had remarked that Navlakha had got a 'red carpet' before the High Court and the Supreme Court.