MUMBAI: Citing financial strain , unemployment and an ailing 86-year-old sister, journalist Gautam Navlakha , an accused in the Elgar Parishad case , recently filed a plea before the special NIA court seeking permission to permanently reside in Delhi. Navlakha who was initially granted bail in 2023 but released from custody in 2024, currently lives in Bandra West.
The plea said that the 72-year-old and his partner, Sahba Hussain, 73, are permanent residents of Delhi, where they have their home, employment, and social connections. "Over time, it has become uneconomical and burdensome for him to cope with the increasing finances. He has been struggling to meet up with the basic necessities such as house rent, bread and butter, travel, etc. Both of them are surviving out of their savings," the plea submitted through advocate Wahab Khan said.
Navlakha was initially arrested in Delhi on April 14, 2020, and has been living in Mumbai since his release. The court directed the NIA to submit its reply.
The plea said that Navlakha and Hussain had struggled to find accommodation in Mumbai for about four months due to his pending case. "Prior to his arrest, the applicant-accused was an eminent journalist based in Delhi. During his stay in Mumbai, the applicant-accused has been unemployed and financially dependent on friends and family to date. With time, it has become extremely difficult for him to sustain a stable lifestyle in Mumbai," the plea said. It cited Navlakha's pending personal matters in Delhi and his familiarity with the area and the city. "The applicant-accused has a long-pending trial to face which requires finances. Hence, it is crucial for him to be employed and financially stable," the petition said.
Through the plea, Navlakha also assured the court he will report to the nearest police station in Delhi. "The applicant-accused shall make himself available to the investigating officer as and when required. The applicant-accused undertakes that he will make himself available and present before this...court as and when required....undertakes that his absence will not cause any delay in trial or any sort of further investigation," the petition said.
The NIA has alleged the Dec 31, 2017, Elgar Parishad at Shaniwarwada, Pune, was funded by Kabir Kala Manch activists and allegedly provocative speeches were made that promoted enmity between groups that eventually led to violence the following day at Bhima Koregaon.
The plea said that the 72-year-old and his partner, Sahba Hussain, 73, are permanent residents of Delhi, where they have their home, employment, and social connections. "Over time, it has become uneconomical and burdensome for him to cope with the increasing finances. He has been struggling to meet up with the basic necessities such as house rent, bread and butter, travel, etc. Both of them are surviving out of their savings," the plea submitted through advocate Wahab Khan said.
Navlakha was initially arrested in Delhi on April 14, 2020, and has been living in Mumbai since his release. The court directed the NIA to submit its reply.
The plea said that Navlakha and Hussain had struggled to find accommodation in Mumbai for about four months due to his pending case. "Prior to his arrest, the applicant-accused was an eminent journalist based in Delhi. During his stay in Mumbai, the applicant-accused has been unemployed and financially dependent on friends and family to date. With time, it has become extremely difficult for him to sustain a stable lifestyle in Mumbai," the plea said. It cited Navlakha's pending personal matters in Delhi and his familiarity with the area and the city. "The applicant-accused has a long-pending trial to face which requires finances. Hence, it is crucial for him to be employed and financially stable," the petition said.
Through the plea, Navlakha also assured the court he will report to the nearest police station in Delhi. "The applicant-accused shall make himself available to the investigating officer as and when required. The applicant-accused undertakes that he will make himself available and present before this...court as and when required....undertakes that his absence will not cause any delay in trial or any sort of further investigation," the petition said.
The NIA has alleged the Dec 31, 2017, Elgar Parishad at Shaniwarwada, Pune, was funded by Kabir Kala Manch activists and allegedly provocative speeches were made that promoted enmity between groups that eventually led to violence the following day at Bhima Koregaon.
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