Gautam Navlakha’s protection from arrest extended till Oct 15

New Delhi, October 4

In a relief to activist Gautam Navlakha, the Supreme Court on Friday extended interim protection from arrest given to him in the Bhima-Koregaom violence case till October 15. The protection was to expire on Friday itself.

A Bench asked the Maharashtra Government to produce all the material collected against Navlakha during the probe on the next date of hearing. On behalf of the activist, senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi pressed for extension of protection from arrest and said the issue of quashing of the FIR can be taken up thereafter.

The Maharashtra Government — which had filed a caveat in the matter to pre-empt any ex-parte order — opposed his plea.

Earlier, as many as five judges of the Supreme Court, including Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi, had recused from hearing Navlakha’s petition.

He had challenged the Bombay HC’s order rejecting his plea for quashing of an FIR in the case on the ground that there was prima facie substance in the case. — TNS