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Synopsis

The Supreme Court today issued notice on National Investigation Agency's plea challenging bail granted to Mahesh Raut, an accused in the Bhima Koregaon Elgar Parishad Violence case.

Today, before a bench of Justices Aniruddha Bose and Bela M Trivedi, the NIA insisted that incriminating letters were there which showed Raut's links with proscribed Maoist outfits.

Court went to defer hearing till next week while saying that it would have to hear ASG SV Raju out. The bench has also extended the stay granted on bail by the Bombay High Court till October 5, 2023.

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.

Earlier this month, the Bombay High Court had reserved its order in the regular bail plea filed by Raut.

In June, NIA in its reply to the bail plea filed by Raut, had told the Bombay High Court that Raut was a part of giving mileage to the subversive activities against the country.

"Raut is one of the members who is part of giving mileage to such subversive activities against this country. Hence he is not entitled to any relief keeping in view the gravity of the offence and its bearing on the State," NIA said in its affidavit. 

Further, the agency while opposing the bail plea stated that acts committed by Raut had a direct impact on the unity, integrity, security and sovereignty of India. 

The reply also stated that the Naxalite-Maoist insurgency had “plagued this country” and caused the destruction of lives of people and police. 

Case Title: NIA vs. Mahesh Sitaram Raut