Bhima Koregaon: SC extends interim protection for Gautam Navlakha, Anand Teltumbde by 1 week, says no further extension will be granted

The Supreme Court has granted a one week extension of the interim protection granted to Gautam Navlakha and Anand Teltumbde, two of the accused in the Bhima Koregaon case. .Navlakha and Teltumbde have been directed to surrender before the investigating authorities within a week, with the Court also stating that there will be no further extension..Earlier today the Supreme Court had reserved its order on the pleas filed by Gautam Navlakha and Anand Teltumbde seeking an extension of time to surrender, owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. The bench of Justices Arun Mishra and Indira Banerjee took up the petitions via video conferencing..The Court has now extended the interim protection by one week and directed the two accused persons to surrender within this period of time, further clarifying that there will be no extension of interim protection after this..Since the petitioners have enjoyed the protection for long, by way of last opportunity, we extend the time granted to surrender for one week. We make it clear that there shall not be any further extension of time. This order shall not be treated as a precedent.Supreme Court.The Supreme Court, on March 16, had rejected the plea filed by the two seeking pre-arrest bail in the Bhima Koregaon case, which is now being investigated by the National investigating Agency (NIA). The Court had granted them three weeks time to surrender before the concerned authortities..Bhima Koregaon: Anticipatory bail for Gautam Navlakha, Anand Teltumbde rejected, SC grants them three weeks to surrender.Navlakha and Teltumbde then approached the Apex Court seeking extension of this time to surrender citing the ongoing health crisis and global pandemic of the novel coronavirus. Both the petitioners are above the age of 65 years and suffer from certain ailments which are likely to make them more vulnerable to the COVID-19 disease, it was argued..Solicitor General Tushar Mehta opposed the plea terming the same as a delaying tactic and submitted that the two faced serious charges under the provisions of Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). The Court then went on to reserve its order..In the short order passed thereafter, the Court noted that despite the Court's order of March 16, the two accused have not surrendered. It further noted that the Courts in Mumbai continue to function and have not been completely closed. Therefore, it was expected of the accused to honour the Court's order and surrender within the time limit given. .Though we expected that the accused would surrender, honouring the order of this Court, they have not done so. We are told that in Bombay, the courts are functioning. It would have been appropriate for the accused to surrender as the courts are open and not totally closed.Supreme Court.All the same, the Court has extended the interim protection by one week, allowing time for Navlakha and Teltumbde to surrender, while stressing that this order should not be treated as a precedent..Read the Order: