Koregaon: No SC relief for activists

New Delhi, February 13

The Supreme Court today set aside the Bombay High Court order refusing to grant extension of time to the Maharashtra Police for filing the chargesheet against Surendra Gadling and four other activists in the Bhima Koregaon violence case.

“We are, thus, not able to persuade ourselves to agree with the conclusions of the learned single Judge of the Bombay HC in the impugned order and hold that the respondents would not be entitled to the benefit of default bail and consequently the impugned order is set aside,” ordered a three-judge Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi.

The accused had claimed “default bail” in view of the failure of the police to file a chargesheet within 90 days, as provided under Section 43D of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. The Bench said the five activists may now seek regular bail. — TNS