Supreme Court Grants Interim Bail To Rights Activist Mahesh Raut In Bhima Koregaon Case
The Supreme Court granted interim bail to human rights defender Mahesh Raut, an accused in the Bhima Koregaon–Elgar Parishad case, on medical grounds. Mahesh has been in custody since June 2018 under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) over alleged Maoist links.
A bench comprising Justices M.M. Sundresh and Satish Kumar Sharma heard his bail petition after Senior Advocate C.U. Singh highlighted that Raut suffers from rheumatoid arthritis. This autoimmune disorder affects the bones and muscles.
Read also: ‘Waqf Interim Judgement Incomplete, Unsatisfactory’: Muslim Law Board On Supreme Court Order
The Additional Solicitor General S.V. Raju, representing the NIA, was not present, but another counsel opposed the plea, arguing that the allegations were serious, including Raut’s alleged role in transferring funds to Maoist organisations.
Raut had also been granted bail earlier by the Bombay High Court on September 21, 2023. However, the High Court had stayed the order for a week to allow the NIA to file an appeal.
Subsequently, the NIA approached the Supreme Court, which admitted the appeal and extended the stay initially granted by the High Court until October 5, 2023. Since then, the stay has been extended multiple times.
Justice Sundresh observed that, considering Raut’s medical condition and the fact that he had already been granted bail by the High Court, the Court was inclined to grant medical bail.
The bench ordered that, “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.”
The plea of co-accused Jyoti Jagtap was also mentioned by Senior Advocate Aparna Bhat, who noted that the case has been pending for six to seven years. The Court would take up her plea in October.
The case stems 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 Mahar troops (Dalits) defeated the Peshwa forces.
Read also: PT John Appointed Vice Chairman Of All India Kisan Congress
The event allegedly incited clashes between Dalit protesters and upper-caste Hindus, resulting in one death and several injuries.
Mahesh Raut, a land and forest rights activist, has been extensively involved with Gram Sabhas in the mining regions of Gadchiroli, Maharashtra. His activism centres on empowering local communities and protecting their rights against encroachments by mining corporations.
On June 6, 2018, Mahesh Raut, along with five other individuals, was arrested by the Pune police. The charges against them included spreading Maoist ideology, funding banned organizations, and recruiting individuals for the Maoists. These arrests were part of a broader investigation into the Bhima Koregaon violence.
