Bail not justifiable for Bhima Koregaon accused Mahesh Raut, his acts were against interest of society: NIA to Bombay High Court

It is not justifiable for an accused under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) to seek bail on constitutional grounds when his acts are against the interests of the State and society, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has told the Bombay High Court. .Through an affidavit filed this week, the agency opposed the regular bail plea filed by Mahesh Raut, an accused in the Bhima Koregaon case of 2018. Raut sought bail invoking Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution of India. NIA opposed the plea, pointing out that the acts committed by Raut were against the society.“As such, it is not justifiable for an accused of such offence to seek relief on constitutional grounds when his acts are itself against the interest of state and society.".NIA further stated that the alleged acts committed by Raut had a direct impact on the unity, integrity, security and sovereignty of the India. The agency highlighted the Naxalite-Maoist insurgency, which “plagued this country” and caused destruction of lives of people, police, etc. It claimed that this insurgency was spearheaded by the Communist Party of India (Maoist). “Raut is one of the members who is part of giving mileage to such subversive activites 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,” the affidavit stated..Raut was arrested in June 2018 and had been in custody since. He approached the High Court after a special NIA court rejected his bail plea in November 2021..His plea stated that he was a forest rights activist who studied in Nagpur and Nashik. It further stated that he passed out of the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) in 2011 after which he did a fellowship on conflict zones.He is a former fellow of the prestigious Prime Minister’s Rural Development Programme and worked with the Gadchiroli Collector, his plea highlighted. .NIA stated in its affidavit that it found evidence to show that Communist Party of India (Maoist) had given Raut ₹5 lakh along with co-accused Surendra Gadling and Sudhir Dhawale..A Bench of Justices AS Gadkari and SG Dige posted Raut’s bail for hearing on July 12.