By Scroll Staff
The Bombay High Court on Tuesday indicated verbally that it was inclined to allow Gautam Navlakha, one of 16 persons accused in the 2018 Bhima Koregaon case, to move to his home in Delhi until the trial commences, Live Law reported.
The bench of Justices Bharati Dangre and Shyam Chandak, said that the 73-year-old journalist and activist is not a flight risk and has been complying with bail conditions, PTI reported.
Navlakha, who was granted bail in 2023, is currently required to remain in Mumbai and not leave the city without the trial court’s permission.
“Consider the fact that he is 73 years old and is away from his family,” Dangre told Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh. “He is not originally from Mumbai. Even the trial is yet to commence and his discharge application is pending.”
Dangre asked Singh what his position was if Navlakha assured that he would attend hearings from the National Investigation Agency office in Delhi and appear in Mumbai whenever required, Live Law reported.
Advocate Yug Chaudhary, appearing for Navlakha, told the court that he cannot afford to continue living in rented premises in Mumbai and should be allowed to return to his permanent residence in Delhi.
Chaudhary said his “client has become bankrupt” and assured that he would attend “each and every hearing”.
The bench noted that there was no indication that Navlakha was a flight risk and asked Singh to specify any additional conditions that should be imposed.
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