Activist Gautam Navlakha. File
| Photo Credit: The Hindu
The Bombay High Court on Tuesday (December 16, 2025) said it was inclined to permit human rights activist Gautam Navlakha to move to his Delhi home until proceedings in the Elgar Parishad–Maoist links case begin, noting that he has shown no tendency to abscond.
A Division Bench of Justices Bharati Dangre and Shyam Chandak observed, “We are satisfied with the reasons shown in his plea and there is nothing to show that he is a flight risk. We have made up our mind.”
The judges observed that Mr. Navlakha, who is 73, has been living in Mumbai since securing bail in 2023 under a condition that barred him from leaving the city without trial court permission. His request to relocate was earlier turned down by the special NIA court, prompting him to approach the High Court.
“The applicant feels that he is forced to stay in Mumbai when his house is in Delhi. He has assured that he will come back to Mumbai when the trial begins,” the Bench noted, adding, “Consider his age. He feels completely uprooted from his life and his social circle. He is now free in the sense that he is out on bail. Just imagine. It is not that we are permitting him to escape the clutches of law.”
Senior advocate Yug Chaudhary argued that Mr. Navlakha has been paying rent in Mumbai for nearly two years while the trial remains stalled. “He is originally from Delhi. He has a house there. He cannot afford to stay in Mumbai. If this continues, he will go bankrupt,” Mr. Chaudhary submitted, assuring that his client would attend hearings via video link from the NIA office in Delhi and appear physically whenever directed.
The court clarified it was not permitting trial attendance from Delhi but was inclined to allow the shift until proceedings commence. The matter will be heard again on Wednesday, with the NIA asked to suggest conditions for the move.
Mr. Navlakha is accused of conspiring to propagate Maoist ideology under instructions from CPI (Maoist) leaders. The case relates to speeches at the Elgar Parishad event in Pune on December 31, 2017, which allegedly promoted caste enmity and sparked violence at Koregaon-Bhima the next day. Initially investigated by Pune police, the case was later handed to the NIA. Sixteen persons, including lawyers, activists and academics, have been arrested; the trial has yet to begin since the FIR was filed in 2018.
Published – December 17, 2025 03:52 am IST
