Top court sets aside HC order refusing extra time for filing chargesheet in Bhima-Koregaon case

The Supreme Court has however allowed the five human rights activists who were arrested in the case to seek regular bail.

File image of police detaining a woman activist during a protest against the arrest of writer Varavara Rao and other activists in connection with Bhima-Koregaon violence, in Hyderabad. | PTI

New Delhi: The Supreme Court Wednesday set aside the Bombay High Court order refusing to grant 90 days extension to Maharashtra Police for filing the charge sheet in the Koregaon-Bhima violence case.

The apex court, however, said that the five rights activists may now seek regular bail in the case as the Mahasrashtra Police has already filed the charge sheet.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi had earlier stayed the Bombay High Court order which had set aside the trial court decision to extend time by 90 days for filing the charge sheet in the case by the state police.

The arrested activists had been alleging that they were entitled for grant of default bail in the case as the Mahasrashtra Police did not file the charge sheet within the stipulated 90 days period and moreover, the extension granted by the trial court was bad in law.

The Pune Police had arrested lawyer Surendra Gadling, Nagpur University professor Shoma Sen, Dalit activist Sudhir Dhawale, activist Mahesh Raut and Kerala native Rona Wilson in June for their alleged links with Maoists under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act or UAPA.