SC Restricts Akhil Gogoi’s Arrest Till March 13

GUWAHATI: The protection from arrest of Assam Legislator Akhil Gogoi was extended by the Supreme Court of India (SC) on Friday until March 13 in connection with a case involving anti-CAA protests and possible Maoist ties.

Akhil Gogoi, a Sivasagar MLA who spoke out against the federal government during the anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Act demonstrations in Assam, filed a petition with the Supreme Court on February 19, challenging the Gauhati High Court's decision to allow the special NIA court in Assam to move forward with the filing of charges against him in one of the two cases.

The panel of Justices V Ramasubramanian and Pankaj Mithal postponed the case for another hearing on March 13 due to the petitioner's attorney's unavailability.

"Interim protection to continue until the next date," the bench stated.

Even though Akhil Gogoi claimed that the cases against him were the consequence of "political vendetta," the National Investigation Agency (NIA) had earlier informed the SC that Akhil Gogoi could not be given bail since he is a suspected leader of Maoist activity in Assam.

"Let notice be given to the standing counsel for the state (NIA) for the limited purpose of considering the award of protection to the petitioner from arrest according to the impugned order, returnable on February 24, 2023," the bench had stated earlier in February.

In relation to anti-CAA protests and suspected Maoist ties, the high court had granted the NIA permission to ask that charges be filed in the special court against Akhil Gogoi and three of his accomplices, Dhajya Konwar, Manas Konwar, and Bitu Sonowal.

The decision was made as a result of the NIA's appeal of a special NIA court's decision to clear the four.

After reviving the case, the high court panel made up of justices Suman Shyam and Malasri Nandi instructed the prosecution to proceed with filing charges against Akhil Gogoi and the others.

The high court has approved the NIA's request to reopen the case and file charges against the four people, according to Santanu Borthakur, Akhil Gogoi's attorney.

The Special NIA Court will hear the matter once more.

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