The Supreme Court on Wednesday extended the stay granted by the Bombay High Court on its order granting bail to Elgar Parishad case accused Mahesh Raut facing charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. Admitting the appeal filed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) challenging the HC order granting him bail, a bench of Justices Aniruddha Bose and Bela M Trivedi extended the stay till October 5 when it will hear the matter again. “Leave granted. List on October 5. The stay already granted by Bombay High Court on the operation of the judgment and order shall continue until the next date of hearing,” the bench said in its order. Appearing for the NIA, Additional Solicitor General K M Nataraj said the evidence against Raut included incriminating letters which establish his links with banned Maoist terror outfits. He also pointed out that the stay was coming to an end Wednesday and must be extended. Senior Advocate Mihir Desai who appeared for Raut said his case was covered by the SC’s order granting bail to co-accused Vernon Gonsalves and Arun Ferreira. Opposing the request to extend stay, he pointed out that Raut has been in custody since June 2018.
