Bhima Koregaon case: ‘Urban Naxal’ Gautam Navlakha owes Rs 1.64 Crores for security during house arrest, says NIA in SC

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) recently informed the Supreme Court that Gautam Navlakha, a key figure in the Bhima Koregaon case known as the Urban Naxal, is liable to pay Rs 1.64 crore for the security expenses incurred during his house arrest. A bench comprising Justices M M Sundresh and SVN Bhatti heard the matter on March 7. Additional Solicitor General S V Raju, representing the NIA, stated that Navlakha, aged 70 and arrested in the Elgar Parishad-Maoist links case, has only paid Rs 10 lakh towards the expenses so far.

Raju emphasised the necessity for Navlakha to contribute financially, while Navlakha’s counsel, Senior Advocate Nitya Ramakrishnan, contested the calculated amount, alleging incorrect estimation and accusing the agency of “extortion.”

Ramakrishnan argued against demanding such a substantial sum from citizens under custody, to which Raju countered that house arrest is not a citizen’s entitlement, strongly objecting to the term “extortion.”

The bench acknowledged the need for further deliberation and scheduled the case for April.

In a related development, the Bombay High Court had granted bail to Navlakha on December 19, 2023, in connection with the Bhima Koregaon violence case. However, the High Court stayed its decision upon the NIA’s appeal to the Supreme Court.

The NIA opposed Navlakha’s bail application, alleging his association with a General from Pakistan’s ISI for recruitment, suggesting his ties to the organisation.

In the recent hearing, the Supreme Court extended the stay on the High Court’s bail order for Navlakha.

Navlakha had been under house arrest at a Mumbai public library since November 2022, despite strong opposition from the investigating agency. Initially imprisoned in Taloja Central Prison, Navlakha was granted house arrest on medical grounds by the Supreme Court in November 2022, with directions to deposit Rs 2.4 lakh for security expenses. Subsequently, he was instructed to deposit an additional Rs 8 lakh for security personnel.

The case revolves around inflammatory speeches made at the Elgar Parishad conclave in Pune on December 31, 2017, which allegedly incited violence near the Koregaon-Bhima war memorial the following day.

Navlakha, with alleged Maoist links, was arrested in August 2018 by Pune police and later transferred to judicial custody at Taloja Central Prison following a Supreme Court order.

Apart from the Bhima-Koregaon case, Navlakha faced interrogation by the Delhi Police in Mumbai on December 31, 2023, regarding the NewsClick funding case, including his association with Prabir Purkayastha, founder and Editor-in-Chief of NewsClick, and his shareholding in PPK NewsClick Studio Pvt Ltd.