Supreme Court hesitant about previous order to consider Gautam Navlakha’s plea for house arrest.

Supreme Court Directs Gautam Navlakha to Deposit Another ₹8 Lakh to Maharashtra Police

The top court had in April directed the activist to pay another ₹8 lakh to the Maharashtra Police as security expenses during his house arrest.

Payment Confirmed by Navlakha

Ramakrishnan today told the Court that the said amount has been paid.

Shift from Jail to House Arrest

On November 10 last year, the Supreme Court had allowed a plea filed by Navlakha to be shifted from jail to house arrest for a month, which has since been extended.

In that order, passed by a bench of Justices KM Joseph (since retired) and Hrishikesh Roy, the Supreme Court also directed that Navlakha shall not be permitted to use computers, the internet or any other communication device while under house arrest.

Television and newspapers will be allowed in the house provided they are not internet-based. There should be CCTVs at entrance exit and outside the rooms of the residence, the Court added.

Background: Bhima Koregaon Violence Case

Navlakha, a former Secretary of the People’s Union for Democratic Rights, was arrested in August 2018 in connection with the Bhima Koregaon violence case.

He was initially placed under house arrest but later moved to Taloja Central Prison in Maharashtra in April 2020 after a Supreme Court order.