On Thursday, the Supreme Court rejected the bail plea of Assam peasant rights activist Akhil Gogoi, saying that in view of the allegations, it can not consider bail. Gogoi had moved the Apex court against the Gauhati High Court order denying him bail.
In the midst of large-scale anti-CAA protests in Assam, Gogoi was arrested under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
Senior Advocate Jaideep Gupta, appearing for Gogoi, said that in protest against the provisions of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, a large-scale agitation had taken place. The demonstration itself could not be called terrorism, even if some violence had happened.
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Justices N.V. Ramana, Surya Kant and Aniruddha Bose’s bench said that maybe the petitioner can file an application later, but as of now, the Court can not consider bail.
Gauhati High Court
The Gauhati High Court dismissed Gogoi’s bail plea in connection with the case brought against him under UAPA Sections 120B, 124A, 153B IPC and Sections 18 (Punishment for conspiracy, etc.) and 39 (Offense relating to assistance provided to a terrorist organization).
The case concerns one of the 13 cases registered against Gogoi, founder of Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS), for his role in the violent protests against the citizenship law that took place in December 2019.
Gogoi has secured bail in all the other cases, including another one filed by the NIA, except this.
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The case was first lodged at the Chandmari Police Station in Guwahati and subsequently transferred to the NIA. Under the Illegal Activities (Prevention) Act, he was charged with sedition, criminal conspiracy, support for terrorist groups, among others.
On December 12, 2019, Gogoi was arrested in Jorhat for his role in the protests against the CAA, which aims to fast forward citizenship from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan to Hindus, Sikhs, Christians, Parsis, Buddhists, and Jains. A day later, three of his associates were arrested.
He was later handed over to the NIA, and on December 17, the court then sent him to the agency for 10 days in custody. He was taken to New Delhi for questioning the same day. On December 25, Gogoi was taken back to Guwahati and has been in judicial custody ever since.
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