The Supreme Court on Thursday agreed to hear tomorrow, a petition filed by activist Gautam Navlakha, an accused in the Bhima Koregaon violence case, alleging that the authorities in Maharashtra have failed to comply with the Apex Court’s November 10 order, which allowed him one-month shift from Taloja prison to house arrest.
Senior Advocate Nitya Ramakrishnan mentioned the matter before Chief Justice of India (CJI) D.Y. Chandrachud.
Appearing for the 73-year-old activist, Ramakrishnan contended that the authorities failed to inspect the premises within 48 hours and also did not comply with the November 10 order.
Representing the National Investigation Agency (NIA), Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta claimed that the activist did not give details of the house where he wanted to be placed under house arrest, but provided details of a library-cum-residential place belonging to the Communist Party.
Ramakrishnan submitted that they had mentioned that it was a library.
Stating that NIA was seeking certain directions from the Court, the Solicitor General requested the Apex Court to list the matter on Monday.
However, the CJI listed the matter for hearing on Friday before the same Bench headed by Justice K.M. Joseph, which had passed the house arrest order on November 10 this year.
The Bench of Justice K.M. Joseph and Justice Hrishikesh Roy had passed an interim order on November 10, permitting Navlakha one-month house arrest in Mumbai, considering his age and medical conditions.
The Apex Court had directed the National Investigation Agency to evaluate premises where he will be placed within 48 hours.
The top court of the country asked the activist to deposit Rs 2.4 lakh for expenses incurred by the state in providing police security.
The top court of the country directed that Navlakha’s house will remain under surveillance. Police personnel will be deployed outside the residence, while CCTV cameras will be installed outside the rooms and at both entry and exit points of the house.
Navlakha was told not to use mobile phone, internet, laptop or any other communicating device. He was permitted to use a mobile phone provided by the police for 10 minutes in a day in presence of police personnel. Only his sister and daughter were allowed to visit him once a week for three hours.
He was told not to leave the house under any circumstance, except for walks in the company of Police personnel. The activist was also prohibited from talking to any person during walks.