NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court said that it may order an investigation a Special Investigation Team in activist arrest case if it is a cooked up story. We may quash the case here if it is a cooked up story. If it calls for our intervention, we will look into it,” said the top court. The court made the statement as it extended the house arrests of the activists till Wednesday, 19 September.
A bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra extended the house arrest of the five rights activists–Varavara Rao, Arun Ferreira, Vernon Gonsalves, Sudha Bharadwaj and Gautam Navlakha– at their respective homes and said it would accord a final hearing after two days on the plea of historian Romila Thapar and four others.
Activists Vara Vara Rao, Arun Ferreira, Vernon Gonsalves, Sudha Bharadwaj and Gautam Navalakha were arrested from different cities during simultaneous raids by the Maharashtra police on August 28 for allegedly having links with banned Maoist organisations.
“Every criminal investigation is based on allegations and we have to see whether there is some material,” the bench, also comprising Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud said.
Advocate Singhvi, representing the petitioners, said that they are seeking an independent inquiry in the case as the apex came to be seized of the matter and directed house arrest of the accused.
Top court, posted the matter for September 19,and scheduled the next hearing for the same day.
