Supreme Court refuses to entertain bail plea by activist Sudha Bharadwaj in Elgar case
New Delhi: The Supreme Court Thursday refused to entertain a plea seeking bail to lawyer and activist Sudha Bharadwaj, an accused in the Elgar Parishad-Koregaon Bhima case being probed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
A bench comprising Justices U U Lalit and Ajay Rastogi dismissed as withdrawn the plea filed by Bharadwaj.
Advocate Vrinda Grover, appearing for the petitioner, submitted that the activist has been in jail for over two years and charges have not been not framed in the case.
Nothing has been recovered from the petitioner and no incriminating material found, she said.
Referring to her health condition, the lawyer said Bharadwaj is suffering from diabetes and other comorbidities.
They are giving me medicine but several tests are required. Grant me interim bail. I will get diagnosed myself and thereafter surrender myself, she said.
The apex court noted that a bail plea is pending in the high court.
Grover said that she sought court's indulgence to get checked and the tests cannot happen in the jail hospital.
You have a good case on merits. Why don't you file a regular bail application, the bench said.
The court then said, "either you withdraw it or we will dismiss it, and suggested that a regular bail plea can be filed.
The plea was then withdrawn.
Bharadwaj, 58, had earlier approached the Bombay High Court seeking bail, saying that she suffered from chronic conditions such as diabetes and hypertension.
She had said comorbidities put her at a higher risk of contracting coronavirus while at the Byculla women''s prison where an inmate had tested positive for COVID-19 earlier.
The court, however, had noted the submissions made by the NIA and the Maharashtra government that the prison authorities were taking all precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and that they were providing necessary medical care to Bharadwaj for her comorbidities.
On August 21, pursuant to an high court order, the state government had submitted a report stating that Bharadwaj had been examined in the prison by a medical officer and that her health condition was found to be "stable and satisfactory".
The report stated that Bharadwaj's vital health parameters were stable although she had been suffering from mild depression and had complained of body ache.
The state said that Bharadwaj had been given medication for dizziness and had been advised to continue medicines for her chronic conditions.
Bharadwaj has been lodged in the Byculla women's prison since September 2018 following her arrest in the case.
The case pertains to the Elgar Parishad conclave held in Pune district on December 31, 2017. It is alleged that speeches made by some activists at the conclave led to violence near the Koregaon-Bhima war memorial on outskirts of Pune city the next day.
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Commercial LPG price hiked by Rs 993 per 19-kg cylinder
New Delhi (PTI): The price of commercial LPG was hiked by the steepest ever Rs 993 per 19-kg cylinder on Friday, marking the third straight monthly increase due to rising global energy prices linked to the West Asia conflict.
A 19-kg commercial LPG - used by establishments such as hotels and restaurtants - now costs a record Rs 3,071.5 in Delhi as against Rs 2,078.50 previously.
Rates were last increased by 195.50 per cylinder on April 1. Prior to that, prices had gone up by Rs 114.5 per 19-kg cylinder on March 1.
In three increases, commercial LPG rates have gone up by Rs 1,303.
Prices of domestic cooking gas LPG - the one used in household kitchens - remained unchanged. Domestic LPG rates were last hiked by Rs 60 per 14.2-kg cylinder on March 7. It costs Rs 913 per 14.2-kg cylinder in Delhi.
State-owned Indian Oil Corporation, Bharat Petroleum, and Hindustan Petroleum revise ATF and LPG prices on the first day of every month based on international benchmarks and the exchange rate.
Global oil prices have shot up almost 50 per cent after the war in West Asia disrupted energy supply chains.
Petrol and diesel prices continue to remain frozen after a Rs 2 per-litre reduction in March last year; petrol currently costs Rs 94.72 per litre in Delhi and diesel Rs 87.62.
