Alleged Urban Naxal Gautam Navlakha Surrenders Before NIA In Bhima Koregaon Riots Case

Left wing activist and alleged Urban Naxal Gautam Navlakha surrendered before the National Investigative Agency on Tuesday (14 April) over his alleged involvement in the Bhima-Koregaon riots in 2018, Press Trust of India has reported.

Navlakha is one of the five alleged Urban Naxals accused in the matter.

Navlakha surrendered after the Supreme Court refused to extend his protection from arrest plea any further. He was initially asked by the apex court to surrender on 16 March but had moved a plea seeking a three week extension by claiming that going to jail during the Coronavirus pandemic is like a death sentence.

Navlakha has been charged under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act.

Earlier, the Pune police while probing case has claimed that some of the documents seized from the laptops of fellow activists Rona Wilson and Surendra Gadling showed that Navlakha had conducted "bilateral talks" with leaders of terrorists organisation Hizbul Mujahideen.

The Pune police claimed that the inflammatory speeches made at Elgar Parishad conclave on 31 December 2017 led to the violence near Bhima Koregaon war memorial next day, and that the conclave was supported by Maoists.