The Supreme Court has reserved its order in the plea filed by activist Gautam Navlakha for default bail after completion of the 90-day remand period in the Bhima Koregaon case, reported Bar and Bench.
In the Gautam Navlakha v. Union of India, the bench of Justices UU Lalit, Indira Banerjee, and KM Joseph passed the order in a plea by Navlakha seeking default bail on the ground that the National Investigation Agency (NIA) failed to file its charge sheet within the upper limit of ninety days as prescribed under Section 167(2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC).
Additional Solicitor General SV Raju argued that the orders passed by the High Courts and the Supreme Court keeping Navlakha in custody were not orders under Section 167 CrPC. Thus, these periods cannot be counted as part of the 90-day period.
Appearing for Navlakha, Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal countered this argument, saying that the High Court orders placing Navlakha under house arrest were an extension of Section 167 CrPC.
After hearing the parties, the Court proceeded to reserve its order in the matter. The order is likely to be pronounced on 12 April.
