Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi, Nov 10: The Supreme Court on Thursday granted a request made by Gautam Navlakha, a defendant in the Bhima Koregaon case, to be placed under house arrest for one month rather than in jail. When Navlakha is placed under house arrest, a bench of Justices KM Joseph and Hrishikesh Roy directed him to deposit a sum of 2.4 lakh as expenses for his security protection.
Supreme Court permits Gautam Navlakha, Bhima Koregaon case accused, to be placed under house arrest considering his health condition and old age.
Navlakha requested the top court that he be placed under house arrest instead of judicial custody in Taloja jail, Maharashtra. pic.twitter.com/vorlgMLlZu
— ANI (@ANI) November 10, 2022
“We would this think that he should be allowed to be placed for house arrest for a period of one month. There will beaArmed escorts to monitor that there is no misuse of the house arrest,” the Court ordered.
The apex Court also directed that Navlakha shall not be permitted to use computer, internet or any other communication device while under house arrest.
“He will however be permitted to use a mobile phone provided by police personnel on duty once a day for 10 minutes in the presence of the police. Otherwise they shall not use any other mobile phone including that of his companion,” the Court directed.
However, it stated that as long as they are not internet-based, television and newspapers will be permitted inside the home. The court also mandated the installation of CCTVs at the residence’s entrance, departure, and outside of each room.
Navlakha petitioned the supreme court after his appeal was denied by the Bombay High Court on April 26.
Notably, former People’s Union for Democratic Rights Secretary Navlakha was detained in August 2018, however she was first put under house arrest. Following a Supreme Court directive, he was later transferred to Taloja Central Prison in Maharashtra in April 2020.
