A view of the Supreme Court of India in New Delhi. File
| Photo Credit: R.V. Moorthy
The Supreme Court on Monday (September 8, 2025) decided to hear on September 15 the bail plea of Elgar Parishad-Bhima Koregaon case accused Mahesh Raut, who has sought release on medical grounds citing deteriorating health.
Appearing before a Bench of Justices M.M. Sundresh and Satish Chandra Sharma, Mr. Raut’s counsel submitted that the activist was suffering from rheumatoid arthritis and required specialised treatment that was not available either in prison or at Mumbai’s JJ Hospital, where he had been examined.
The Bench observed that if the condition was serious and required continuous treatment, there should be no difficulty in considering relief. “If the ailment is so serious that it warrants continuous treatment, then there is no difficulty. Because all of us know that government doctors play it safe. If a serious treatment is required, they will not touch it because if anything happens then they will be responsible. So let’s just find out, no problem”, it said.
The judges added that the authorities were at liberty to file an affidavit if they wished.
When the counsel referred to the fact that Mr. Raut had already spent nearly seven years in custody, Justice Sundresh remarked, “No issue at all, we will consider it. Keep it next Tuesday.”
Mr. Raut, a social activist, was arrested by the Pune police in June 2018 in connection with the violence at Bhima Koregaon on January 1, 2018, in which one person was killed. The National Investigating Agency (NIA) has alleged that the violence was instigated by provocative speeches delivered at the Elgar Parishad conclave, held in December 2017 at Pune’s Shaniwarwada, an 18th-century palace-fort.
On September 21, 2023, the Bombay High Court granted him bail, but the order was stayed by the Supreme Court on an appeal filed by the NIA. He remains in judicial custody at Taloja prison, Maharashtra. The NIA has charged him under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, alleging that he was affiliated with the banned terror outfit, Communist Party of India (Maoist).
Published – September 08, 2025 03:43 pm IST
