The Bombay HC on Monday extended the interim bail granted to poet-activist Varavara Rao till September 25.
The court said that Rao need not surrender to Taloja prison authorities till September 25.
82-year-old Rao is an accused in the Elgar Parishad case and is out on interim bail on medical grounds in February.
The court adjourned the matter till September 24 for the next hearing.
Rao was scheduled to return to judicial custody on September 5. But, last week, the activist, through lawyer R Sathyanarayanan and senior counsel Anand Grover, filed a plea seeking an extension of the bail.
Rao had also sought permission to stay in his hometown Hyderabad while out on bail, saying he found living in Mumbai and accessing health facilities here unaffordable.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA), which is conducting a probe into the case, opposed Rao’s plea for the extension of medical bail and to shift to Hyderabad from Mumbai.
NIA claimed that his medical reports did not indicate that he suffers from any serious medical ailment.
In its affidavit filed before the HC on Monday, the NIA said, “The medical reports filed by the applicant do not disclose any major ailment which necessitates him to take treatment at Hyderabad, neither it forms a ground for further extension (of bail).”
The NIA, in its affidavit, further said the Taloja prison, located in neighbouring Navi Mumbai, had adequate health care facilities and Rao can be provided with the “best medical facilities” there.
The probe agency also said Rao should not be granted bail extension and should not be allowed to shift to Hyderabad as he is accused of committing a “serious” offence.
The HC agreed that Rao needn’t surrender till September 25.
However, the court added that he must continue adhering to the bail conditions until then, including staying within the jurisdiction of the Mumbai NIA court.
Also read : https://nenow.in/north-east-news/nagaland/nagaland-govt-suspends-partial-lifting-of-appointments.html