‘Purely on medical grounds’: SC grants regular bail to activist Varavara Rao in Bhima Koregaon violence case

While granting bail, the top court imposed several restrictions on Dr P Varavara Rao including directing him not to establish contact with any witnesses in the case.
New Delhi: In a big development in the 2018 Bhima Koregaon violence case, the Supreme Court on Wednesday granted regular bail to activist and poet Dr P Varavara Rao. The top court allowed bail to Rao on medical grounds. Rao is currently on interim bail.
While granting bail, the top court imposed several restrictions on 82-year-old Rao including directing him not to establish contact with any witnesses in the case.
News agency ANI reported that a Supreme Court bench headed by Justice UU Lalit ordered Rao shall not leave the jurisdiction of the concerned trial court without the permission of the trial court. Further, he shall not misuse his liberty and he shall not be in touch with any witnesses.
The court stated that Rao will be at liberty to receive medical treatment of his choice but he will have to keep the National Investigation Agency (NIA) informed about the medical treatment being received by him.
During the hearing today, the Supreme Court categorically stated that it was granting bail to the jailed activist purely on medical grounds. The court clarified that this order shall not impact the case of other accused.
Rao had earlier moved the SC challenging the Bombay High Court's order on April 13 denying him permanent bail on medical grounds.
The case concerns alleged provocative speeches that were delivered at the Elgar Parishad conclave in Pune on December 31, 2017. Violence had broken out the next day near the Koregaon-Bhima war memorial on the outskirts of Pune. The police had blamed the speeches made at the conclave for the violence.
The Pune Police had also alleged that the organisers of the conclave had Maoist links. The probe into the case was later handed over to the NIA.
Rao’s arrest in the case was made on August 28, 2018 from his Hyderabad house. He is an under-trial in the case.
End of Article