From Our Bureau
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued notice to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for its response on a plea filed by Bhima Koregaon case accused, Telugu poet P Varavara Rao(83), seeking a permanent bail on the medical grounds.
Continuing the interim protection granted to him, a Bench headed by Justice Uday Umesh Lalit fixed further hearing on August 10. Rao, who is currently on interim bail on medical grounds, was to surrender on July 12.
Rao was arrested on August 28, 2018 from his Hyderabad residence and is an under-trial in the case for which an FIR was lodged by Pune police on January 8, 2018 under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
The Bench, which also comprised Justices S R Bhat and Sudhanshu Dhulia, observed that only the medical condition is the issue that does not require extensive hearing. Additional Solicitor General S V Raju, however, wanted time to file something in the matter, pointing out that Rao is already protected and out on bail.
Issuing a formal notice, returnable on August 10, the Bench said any paper or material to be place on record should be before August 2 and the rejoinder, if any on or before August 8.
The case relates to alleged inflammatory speeches made at the Elgar Parishad conclave held in Pune on December 31, 2017, which the police claimed triggered violence the next day near the Koregaon-Bhima war memorial on the outskirts of the western Maharashtra city.
The Pune Police had also claimed that the conclave was organised by people with alleged Maoist links. The NIA later took over the probe in the matter.
