Varavara Rao Will Not Make Media Statements On Bhima Koregaon Case: NIA Court Sets Bail Conditions

Sharmeen Hakim

20 Aug 2022 7:08 AM GMT

  • Varavara Rao Will Not Make Media Statements On Bhima Koregaon Case: NIA Court Sets Bail Conditions

    A special NIA court in Mumbai set 12 bail conditions for Telugu poet Dr P Varavara Rao accused in the Bhima Koregaon case, including a restriction on talking about the case at any media forum.Rao was recently granted bail by the Supreme Court on medical grounds."He shall not make any statement in regard to the matter in any form of media i.e. print media, electronic media, social media,...

    A special NIA court in Mumbai set 12 bail conditions for Telugu poet Dr P Varavara Rao accused in the Bhima Koregaon case, including a restriction on talking about the case at any media forum.

    Rao was recently granted bail by the Supreme Court on medical grounds.

    "He shall not make any statement in regard to the matter in any form of media i.e. print media, electronic media, social media, etc. He shall not commit any other offence either of similar or any other nature," Special Judge Rajesh Katariya observed.

    The court has further directed him to mark his attendance every fortnight through a WhatsApp video call and physically attend the police station every three months.

    On August 10, the Supreme Court granted bail to Rao on medical grounds, and had imposed a condition that he should not leave the Greater Mumbai region without the permission of the trial court. But on August 17, 2022, the SC allowed Rao to approach the trial court within two weeks for undergoing a cataract surgery in Hyderabad.

    The bail conditions are as under -

    a. The applicant/accused shall furnish fresh P.R. Bond of Rs.50,000/- with two solvent sureties. If earlier sureties are to be continued, he shall furnish fresh documents in that regard and shall make sureties remain present for verification afresh.

    b. Reside within the area of greater Mumbai and shall not leave Mumbai without prior permission of the Court.

    c. Furnish detailed address of his residence & contact numbers of his 3 close relatives and person residing with him.

    d. Attend the proceedings before trial Court unless exemption from personal appearance is allowed.

    e. Report to the nearest Police Station once in a period of 3 months physically and through Whatsapp Video Call fortnightly.

    f. Not make any statement in regard to the matter in any form of media i.e. print media, electronic media, social media, etc.

    g. He shall not commit any other offence either of similar or any other nature.

    h. Shall not indulge in any activity regarding which present crime is registered against the applicant.

    i. Shall not communicate with co-accused or any other person involved in similar activities.

    j. He shall not make any call either domestic or international to any person indulging in similar activities through any mode of communication.

    k. He shall not tamper the prosecution witnesses either personally or through any other person.

    l. He shall not abscond or try to flee away from justice.

    m. There shall not be any gathering of visitors where applicant shall reside at greater Mumbai.

    n. The applicant shall surrender his passport before this Court if not surrendered earlier.

    Rao was arrested in the case four years ago on August 28, 2018. He was taken to Taloja jail in Mumbai in November 2018. In 2020, he was shifted to hospital when his medical conditions got aggravated. In February 2021, he was allowed 6-months medical bail by the High Court. The medical bail was extended from time to time. However, in on April 13 this year, the High Court refused to grant him permanent bail and extended the medical bail temporarily by three more months. He was asked to surrender in jail after the period of three months. The Supreme Court extended the temporary bail period before finally deciding his SLP.

    Case Title :VISHRAMBAUG POLICE STATION versus SUDHIR PRAHLAD DHAVALE AND ORS

    Click Here To Read/Download Order

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