The Supreme Court on Tuesday granted interim bail on medical grounds to Mahesh Raut, a human rights defender and accused in the Bhima Koregaon–Elgar Parishad case, who has been in custody since June 2018 under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) related to alleged Maoist affiliations.
A bench comprising Justices M.M. Sundresh and Satish Kumar Sharma approved the bail after Senior Advocate C.U. Singh emphasized Raut’s diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune disorder that affects bones and muscles. The Additional Solicitor General S.V. Raju, representing the National Investigation Agency (NIA), was absent, although another counsel opposed the bail, citing the serious nature of the allegations against Raut, including his purported role in funding Maoist organizations.
Singh mentioned that the Bombay High Court had previously granted Raut bail on September 21, 2023, but stayed the order for a week to allow the NIA time to file an appeal. Following this, the NIA appealed to the Supreme Court, which admitted the case and extended the stay until October 5, 2023; this extension has been renewed multiple times since.
Justice Sundresh remarked that considering Raut’s medical condition and the earlier bail granted by the High Court, the Supreme Court was inclined to permit medical bail. The bench stated, “The applicant is seeking interim bail on medical grounds, coupled with the fact that he was actually granted bail; we are inclined to grant medical bail for a period of six weeks.”
Additionally, the plea of co-accused Jyoti Jagtap was referenced by Senior Advocate Aparna Bhat, who pointed out the case has remained unresolved for six to seven years. The Court indicated it would address her plea in October.
The case originated from violence that erupted on January 1, 2018, near Pune, Maharashtra, during the Elgar Parishad event commemorating the 200th anniversary of the 1818 Battle of Bhima Koregaon, where Dalit troops defeated Peshwa forces. The event allegedly incited violent clashes between Dalit protesters and upper-caste Hindus, resulting in one death and numerous injuries.
The Pune Police charged 16 prominent activists, academics, lawyers, and human rights defenders under the UAPA, alleging a broader conspiracy to incite violence and destabilize the government. Notable accused include Sudha Bharadwaj, Shoma Sen, Surendra Gadling, Arun Ferreira, Sudhir Dhawale, Rona Wilson, Vernon Gonsalves, Varavara Rao, Gautam Navlakha, Anand Teltumbde, Hany Babu, Stan Swamy (deceased in custody in 2021), Sagar Gorkhe, Ramesh Gaichor, and Jyoti Jagtap.
Mahesh Raut is recognized as the “youngest political prisoner” in this case and is a forest rights activist engaged in Adivasi issues, having worked with local self-governance institutions in rural Maharashtra.
The Pune Police and NIA assert that inflammatory speeches delivered during the Elgar Parishad triggered clashes between Maratha and Dalit communities. On September 21, 2023, the Bombay High Court granted Raut bail but stayed the order to facilitate the appeal process. The Supreme Court subsequently upheld this stay on September 27, 2023. Raut currently remains incarcerated at Taloja Central Jail in Navi Mumbai.
In a related context, the High Court previously rejected Jagtap’s plea, citing that dialogues in Kabir Kala Manch’s plays, which mocked terms such as “Ram Mandir,” “Gomutra,” and “Acche Din,” incited hatred and suggested a broader conspiracy against the democratically elected government.
Tags: Mahesh Raut, interim bail, Bhima Koregaon, rights activist, medical grounds
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