The Supreme Court today reserved its order on the pleas filed by Gautam Navlakha and Anand Teltumbde accused in Bhima Koregaon case, seeking extension of time to surrender owing to the COVID-19 pandemic..The Bench of Justices Arun Mishra and Indira Banerjee took up the petitions filed by the two scholars via video conferencing..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 now approached the Apex Court seeking extension of this time to surrender citing the ongoing health crisis and global pandemic of novel coronavirus. Both the petitioners are above the age of 65 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 reserved its order on these petitions today.
