Mumbai: In a setback to civil rights activist Gautam Navlakha, a special UAPA court in Pune on Tuesday rejected his anticipatory bail application in the Elgaar Parishad case.
According to the police, he had links with the banned organisation, Communist Party of India (Maoist).
The court not only rejected Navlakha’s petition but also refused to extend the protection from arrest granted to him by the Supreme Court, clearing the decks for the police to arrest him.
The apex court in October had granted Navlakha protection from arrest till November 12, 2019. Navlakha’s counsel sought three days’ extension in interim protection but sessions Judge S.R. Navandar rejected his plea.
Navlakha has the option of moving the high court to seek pre-arrest bail, and pending hearing, he can also get interim protection from arrest, if the court so deems fit.
