Elgar-Parishad Case Elgar-Parishad case: SC allows house arrest of Gautam Navlakha
New Delhi: The Supreme Court Thursday allowed the house arrest of Gautam Navlakha, an accused in the Elgar Parishad-Maoist link case, for one month on medical grounds, media reports said.
According to an India Today report, a bench of Justices KM Joseph and Hrishikesh Roy said, "Prima facie there is no reason to reject the medical report of Gautam Navlakha."
The apex court allowed Navlakha (70), who is lodged in jail, to be under house arrest with certain conditions following an evaluation carried out within 48 hours from today.
“The respondents and authorities will carry out an evaluation of the premises which is indicated by us in order in the place where he can be placed under house arrest after the evaluation is carried out within 48 hours from today,” said the top court, the report said.
Further, Navlakha will deposit an amount of Rs 2,40,000 as expenses to be borne by making available police personnel to place him under house arrest, the court said in the order.
“Respondents will be free to deploy police personnel to ensure that there is no misuse of the facility of house arrest. We have already indicated about the expenses to be paid to the escort,” SC further said in its order.
The court also barred Navlakha from using a mobile phone, internet, laptop, or any other communication device while he is on house arrest.
The court, however, allowed him to communicate over the mobile phone to be provided by police personnel once a day for only 10 minutes, according to the report.
It also ordered Navlakha to not leave Navi Mumbai.
He can meet only two members of his family once a week for three hours, it said.
Navlakha will also bear the expenses of placing CCTV at the entrance and outside of the rooms, the court ordered, the report said.
"We observe that the petitioner and companion are expected to scrupulously adhere to all conditions. Any deviation will be viewed seriously and may entail immediate cancellation of the order," the Supreme Court bench said.
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