NIA moves Gauhati HC, challenges Akhil’s bail

GUWAHATI: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed an appeal before the Gauhati High Court challenging Akhil Gogoi’s bail in a case registered in Chabua, Dibrugarh district, over his “provocative” role during the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act protests there.
Gogoi was granted bail by an NIA court on Thursday in the aforesaid case as the judges found no inciting elements in Gogoi’s speech delivered in Chabua on December 9, 2019. NIA’s appeal will be heard by the high court on Friday.
Notably, the court will also hear another bail petition of the peasant leader over a case registered under the Chandmari police station on October 13. A division bench of the Gauhati High Court on Monday directed the NIA to file its objection against the Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti chief’s bail order before October 13.
The division bench of justice KR Surana and justice Ajit Borthakur heard the argument and issued the notice to the central probe agency. “The court heard the bail plea of Akhil Gogoi and directed the NIA to file the bail objection before October 13 and fixed the next hearing on the same date,” advocate Krishna Gogoi said.
Akhil Gogoi was arrested on December 12, 2019, from Jorhat and sent to NIA custody in New Delhi for 10 days. Subsequently, he was brought back to Guwahati Central Jail and has been there since December 26.