Bombay High Court Allows Gautam Navlakha to Move to Delhi Amid Ongoing Trial

Court Ruling on Gautam Navlakha's Relocation

The Bombay High Court has granted permission for Gautam Navlakha, a human rights activist accused in the Elgar Parishad-Maoist links case, to relocate from Mumbai to his residence in Delhi until the conclusion of his trial. This decision comes with specific conditions. The 74-year-old Navlakha is required to surrender his passport to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and is prohibited from leaving Delhi without prior approval from the NIA's special court. The court is currently overseeing the trial of Navlakha and 15 other defendants in connection with the Elgar Parishad-Bhima Koregaon violence case.

Navlakha has also been instructed to be present in the trial court when charges are framed against the accused and to attend all subsequent hearings as directed by the NIA. However, he must return to Mumbai's NIA special court if necessary. The court has stipulated that he can only be absent if granted permission. Additionally, Navlakha is required to report to the local police station in Delhi every Saturday and must submit his passport. He cannot leave Delhi without court approval and must return to Mumbai during the charge framing process.

Navlakha's Request for Relocation

Recently, Navlakha filed a petition stating that living in Mumbai was financially burdensome and requested permission to return to his home in Delhi. The NIA's special court had previously imposed a condition on his bail, restricting him from leaving Mumbai without court consent. After being separated from his family for two years, Navlakha approached the High Court for relief. The bench acknowledged Navlakha's right to freedom but noted that he is not yet a free individual. During a hearing on Tuesday, the court verbally expressed that there is no 'risk of Navlakha fleeing the country,' as there have been no incidents indicating an attempt to escape.