New Delhi, Aug 10 : The Supreme Court on Wednesday granted bail to 82-year-old P.Varavara Rao, who is a defendant in the Bhima-Koregaon trial, refusing to accept the NIA’s argument, that neither medical or age could be a factor in granting bailing a UAPA accused. In opposition to Rao’s bail request The National Investigation Agency (NIA) stated before a bench dominated by Justice U.U.Lalit the fact that he has been in in “serious illegal activities against the nation”.
Justice Lalit noted that the medical state of Rao who is currently in interim bail due to medical reasons, hasn’t improved enough in the past that the option of bail that was previously granted to him was revoked.
Additionally, he had spent around two and a half years in the custody of the police.
In the course of the hearing, the highest court hurled a series of questions to the counsel for the NIA in the context with the trial.
The bench, comprised of Justices Aniruddha Bose and Sudhanshu Dhulia The bench also asked Additional Solicitor General S.V.Raju, representing the NIA what date the trial in the case will begin and also observed the court that is in charge hasn’t set out charges against the defendant even though a charges have been filed.
At this point the the senior attorney Anand Grover, representing Rao said that the trial could last at least 10 years even if it begins today, and there are only 16 defendants.
Raju was not in agreement with this argument.of argument.
But, the bench then asked Raju how much time it will take to finish the trial and he said it would take about one and one-half years.
The supreme court has expressed its opinion to give bail to Rao in light of his advanced age and medical conditions.
Raju has argued that the that the allegations against him are serious and pointed out certain alleged correspondences, which he claimed show talks were conducted with his comrades about strategies to fund the acquisition of weapons that could be used against military.He claimed that Maoists are accountable for securing security forces by ambushing them.
After hearing the arguments in depth after hearing arguments in detail, the supreme court ruled that after considering the entire range of factors, in its view, the appellant has a right to relief of bail due to medical reasons.It revoked the condition that was placed by the Bombay High Court in the February 2017 order, and limiting the duration of bail given to Rao for medical reasons to six months.
Rao had filed a petition to the top court to contest the Bombay High Court’s decision of April 13 that denied his request to remain in his house in Telangana.However, the court extended the duration of temporary bail to three months in the context of medical issues.
The plea was entered in the courtroom.Rao made it clear to the supreme court that any additional imprisonment could be a death sentence for him, in light of his ageing body and declining health which is a fatal mix.
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