Human rights activist Gautam Navlakha.
| Photo Credit: File photo
The Bombay High Court on Wednesday (December 17, 2025) permitted human rights activist Gautam Navlakha, an accused in the Elgar Parishad–Maoist links case, to shift from Mumbai to his residence in Delhi until the trial concludes.
The court, however, directed that he must attend proceedings before the special NIA court in Mumbai whenever required.
A Division Bench of Justices Bharati Dangre and Shyam Chandak laid down conditions for the move, including weekly appearance at a local police station in Delhi every Saturday, surrendering his passport, and seeking prior permission from the special court before leaving Delhi.
“The applicant shall remain present before the special court when charges are framed and thereafter attend all hearings unless exempted,” the Bench said.
Mr. Navlakha’s counsel, Yug Chaudhary, urged the court to relax the requirement of weekly reporting to once a month, pointing out that the current practice is monthly. The judges declined, observing that while Navlakha is entitled to liberty, “he is not a free man yet.”
On Tuesday, the Bench said that Mr. Navlakha was not a flight risk, noting there had been no attempt to abscond.
Mr. Navlakha was granted bail in 2023 with a condition that he could not leave Mumbai without the trial court’s permission. Earlier this year, he sought approval from the special NIA court to stay in Delhi, citing financial constraints and the slow pace of trial. The plea was rejected, prompting him to approach the High Court.
The NIA has alleged that Mr. Navlakha conspired with leaders of the banned CPI (Maoist) and propagated its ideology. The case stems from speeches delivered at the Elgar Parishad event in Pune on December 31, 2017, which authorities claim incited caste violence at Koregaon-Bhima the following day. Initially investigated by Pune police, the probe was later handed over to the NIA.
Sixteen individuals, including lawyers, activists, and academics, have been arrested in connection with the case.
Published – December 18, 2025 12:53 am IST
