Elgaar Parishad case: Interim bail granted to Mahesh Raut to attend law exam

A special court on Thursday granted interim bail to activist Mahesh Raut, arrested in the Elgaar Parishad case, to enable him to attend law examination. Raut has also been permitted by the court to appear for his viva with a police escort team.

Raut, who was arrested by the Pune police in 2018, is behind bars since. Currently lodged at Taloja Central Jail, Raut has been pursuing a law degree. In his application before the special court, Raut had sought to be permitted to appear for his ATKT exam (allowed to keep terms) and viva assignment presentation this week. The court directed the Navi Mumbai police commissionerate to provide police escort to take him to his law college between April 4 and 9 and take him back to the jail after the exam is over. “The state shall waive off the escort charges, considering present facts, circumstances and the status of the accused/applicant,” the court said.

The court also allowed Raut interim bail from April 20 to May 16 to prepare and attend his law exam. Previously too Raut was granted interim bail to attend exams.

Raut was granted bail on September 21, 2023, by the Bombay High Court. He remains behind bars as the Supreme Court has stayed the execution of the bail order, pending hearing of an appeal filed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) against the high court order.