The apex court, however, said that the five rights activists may now seek regular bail in the case as the Maharashtra Police has already filed the charge sheet. A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi had earlier stayed the Bombay High Court order which had set aside the trial court decision to extend the time by 90 days for filing the charge sheet in the case by the state police.
The arrested activists had been alleging that they were entitled to grant of default bail in the case as the Maharashtra Police did not file the charge sheet within the stipulated 90 days period and moreover, the extension granted by the trial court was bad in law.
The Pune Police had arrested lawyer Surendra Gadling, Nagpur University professor Shoma Sen, Dalit activist Sudhir Dhawale, activist Mahesh Raut and Kerala native Rona Wilson in June for their alleged links with Maoists under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act or UAPA.
(With inputs from PTI)
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