The Supreme Court on Tuesday remarked that activist Gautam Navlakha could not escape his liability to pay security costs for his house arrest. .A Bench of Justices MM Sundresh and SVN Bhatti made the remark after being informed by Additional Solicitor General (ASG) SV Raju for the National Investigation Agency (NIA) that Navlakha owed the agency about ₹1.64 crore."If you have asked for it (house arrest), you have to pay (the costs for security cover). You cannot escape your liability," the Court said. .The Court was hearing NIA's appeal against the Bombay High Court order that granted bail to Navlakha, an accused in the Bhima Koregaon riot case of 2018.The activist's plea concerning the terms of his house arrest is being heard along with the bail matter..Advocate Shadan Farasat, appearing for Navlakha, expressed willingness to pay, but disputed the figures. Unconvinced, ASG Raju stated,"Everytime they say this. I want to see the currency paper, not your file.".Justice Bhatti intervened and emphasised that the parties needed to cooperate."The numbers will continue to fly as long as the lawyers are...You people do not listen to us at all. Instead of letting it reach highest level, we will give one week time. Next Friday. Whatever allegations you both have to say, say it then. We will decide," he said..Accordingly, the Court posted the matter for hearing on April 19, and also extended the interim stay on Navlakha's bail until then..Navlakha, who is a human rights activist and the former Secretary of the People's Union for Democratic Rights (PUDR), was arrested in August 2018.Though he was lodged in prison initially, he was later shifted to his house and placed under house arrest in November 2022 after the Supreme Court allowed his plea for the same, on the ground of his advanced age.He has since been under house arrest in Navi Mumbai..Along with ASG Raju, Advocate Arvind Kumar Sharma also appeared for the NIA.Standing Counsel Aaditya Aniruddha Pande appeared for the Maharashtra government.Along with Farasat, Advocate Natasha Maheshwari appeared for Navlakha.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday remarked that activist Gautam Navlakha could not escape his liability to pay security costs for his house arrest. .A Bench of Justices MM Sundresh and SVN Bhatti made the remark after being informed by Additional Solicitor General (ASG) SV Raju for the National Investigation Agency (NIA) that Navlakha owed the agency about ₹1.64 crore."If you have asked for it (house arrest), you have to pay (the costs for security cover). You cannot escape your liability," the Court said. .The Court was hearing NIA's appeal against the Bombay High Court order that granted bail to Navlakha, an accused in the Bhima Koregaon riot case of 2018.The activist's plea concerning the terms of his house arrest is being heard along with the bail matter..Advocate Shadan Farasat, appearing for Navlakha, expressed willingness to pay, but disputed the figures. Unconvinced, ASG Raju stated,"Everytime they say this. I want to see the currency paper, not your file.".Justice Bhatti intervened and emphasised that the parties needed to cooperate."The numbers will continue to fly as long as the lawyers are...You people do not listen to us at all. Instead of letting it reach highest level, we will give one week time. Next Friday. Whatever allegations you both have to say, say it then. We will decide," he said..Accordingly, the Court posted the matter for hearing on April 19, and also extended the interim stay on Navlakha's bail until then..Navlakha, who is a human rights activist and the former Secretary of the People's Union for Democratic Rights (PUDR), was arrested in August 2018.Though he was lodged in prison initially, he was later shifted to his house and placed under house arrest in November 2022 after the Supreme Court allowed his plea for the same, on the ground of his advanced age.He has since been under house arrest in Navi Mumbai..Along with ASG Raju, Advocate Arvind Kumar Sharma also appeared for the NIA.Standing Counsel Aaditya Aniruddha Pande appeared for the Maharashtra government.Along with Farasat, Advocate Natasha Maheshwari appeared for Navlakha.
