Bhima Koregaon Case: Supreme Court Extends Interim Bail of Accused Mahesh Raut Till Nov 26
The Supreme Court extended interim bail of Bhima Koregaon–Elgar Parishad accused Mahesh Raut, who faces UAPA charges over alleged Maoist links, till November 26
SC extends interim bail of Bhima Koregaon accused Mahesh Raut
The Supreme Court on Wednesday (October 9) extended the interim bail granted to Bhima Koregaon–Elgar Parishad case accused Mahesh Sitaram Raut till November 26.
Raut, an academic and activist, was arrested under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, for his alleged links with the banned CPI (Maoist). He has been lodged in Taloja Jail since his arrest in 2018.
The Bench of Justice MM Sundresh and Justice Satish Kumar Sharma had earlier granted him interim bail on September 16 for a period of six weeks on medical grounds.
The Court on Wednesday agreed to extend the same relief till November 26.
The matter will now be taken up after the expiry of the extended interim bail period.
Notably, on September 8, the Bench had taken note of Raut’s submission that he has been suffering from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and that adequate medical facilities for treatment are not available within the prison or at J.J. Hospital.
Raut was earlier granted bail by the Bombay High Court. However, on the National Investigation Agency’s (NIA) request, the High Court stayed the order for a week, which was later continued by the Supreme Court. Raut has been incarcerated for over seven years in connection with the Bhima Koregaon-Elgar Parishad case.
Justice Sundresh had observed that the Court would not hesitate to consider medical release if the ailment was indeed serious and required sustained treatment. “If the ailment is so serious that it warrants continuous treatment, then there is no difficulty. Because all of us know that government doctors play it safe. If a serious treatment is required, they will not touch it because if anything happens then they will be responsible,” Justice Sundresh remarked. He had further added, “So let’s just find out, no problem.” The Bench clarified that if the State or prison authorities wished to file an affidavit, they were free to do so.
A division bench of Justice AS Gadkari and Justice Sharmila Deshmukh of the Bombay High Court on September 21, 2023 had granted bail to Raut.
"Prima facie Section 13 and 38 of the UAPA are applicable and section 16, 17, and 18 are not made out. Bail conditions are the same as Anand Temtumbe" the bench had said.
Mahesh Raut, who is accused of alleged links with CPI Maoists was earlier denied bail by the Pune Session Court and Special NIA Court in Mumbai. Raut then filed an appeal before the high court against the rejection of bail by the NIA Court.
Notably, on September 27, 2023, the Apex Court had extended the stay granted on Raut's bail by the Bombay High Court till October 5, 2023. The same order of extension of stay is still ongoing.
Case Title: NIA v. Mahesh Sitaram Raut
Hearing Date: September 16, 2025
Bench: Justice MM Sundresh and Justice Satish Chandra Sharma