In a shot in the arm for civil rights, peasant movement leader Akhil Gogoi was granted bail by a special court in Assam. The National Intelligence Agency (NIA) had arrested him in December 2019, but failed to file a chargesheet against him even after 90 days, thus paving way for his release. Gogoi’s wife Gitashree Tamuly then moved court for his release.
The special NIA court set his bail at Rs 30,000/- with one surety. The court observed, “… since no final form in the form of chargesheet has come into the record as on 16.03.2020, the accused Sri Akhil Gogoi has thereby become entitled to default bail.”
Gogoi has been granted bail under the condition that he will cooperate fully with investigations and appear when required before the investigating officer for the same. The entire bail order may be read here:
Gogoi, who is an advisor to the Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) has been a vocal dissenter against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). Gogoi’s ordeal began on December 12 when he was arrested by the Assam police. They handed him over to the NIA on December 17. The NIA arrested him under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and produced him before an NIA court. Gogoi has been in custody ever since.
Later in December itself, the NIA raided his home in Assam and seized his laptop and a few other documents. The police also raided the KMSS office and seized several documents.
However, Gogoi’s present ordeal is far from over. The Wire reports that Gogoi will have to remain at the Guwahati Central Jail due to another case filed by the city Panbabazaar Police Station (Crime Branch) in January this year. Also, multiple police stations in upper Assam have filed a ‘shown arrest’ petition against him. Though Gogoi has managed to secure bail in a case registered in Jorhat and has applied for bail in yet another Guwahati based case, KMSS member Mukut Deka fears that Gogoi can be re-arrested any time and can even be taken to Sivasagar from Guwahati. Meanwhile, the NIA has moved Gauhati HC against the bail order by the special court in the present case. However, though the HC has admitted the case, it has not issued a stay so far.
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