HC refuses interim protection to Teltumbde
MUMBAI :The Bombay high court (HC) on Monday refused to give interim protection from arrest to professor Anand Teltumbde after the state said it was not willing to give any statement about not arresting him after February 12, when the protection offered by the Supreme Court (SC) expires.
In light of the state’s submission, the HC has asked Teltumbde to attend the Pune police station where case has been registered against him on February 14 and 18 between 10am and noon. The HC also directed the state that in case of Teltumbde’s arrest before February 22, when it would hear his anticipatory bail plea (ABA) finally, he should be let out on bail on a personal bond of ₹1 lakh.
During the hearing of Teltumbde’s anticipatory bail application (ABA) in the HC last week, the state had said that in light of the SC allowing Teltumbde to approach the appropriate authority for bail till February 11, they would not arrest him till February 12. However, as the protection offered by the SC would expire on Tuesday they were not willing to make any statement again about not arresting him. On Monday, when Teltumbde’s ABA came up for hearing before the bench of justice Nitin Sambre, senior counsel Mihir Desai informed the court that the state had served them a copy of the affidavit only in the morning and hence needed time to take instructions. On February 5, the state while opposing the ABA said it had enough evidence against Teltumbde regarding his involvement in the Elgar Parishad conclave on December 31, 2017 which allegedly led to the Bhima-koregaon violence. The court had directed the state to file an affidavit and serve a copy to Desai on February 8.
The affidavit, apart from reiterating the state’s previous stand of Teltumbde’s involvement with the Elgar Parishad, has also added some new averments that strengthen the state’s conviction about Teltumbde’s role in the incident as well as other facts relating to the incident, which were not disclosed earlier.
However, after Desai made the request, additional public prosecutor Aruna Pai said Desai could take instructions till Tuesday morning and the hearing could take place the same day at 5pm. But Desai said he needed more time and assured the court he would not file a rejoinder.