Activist and newly-elected Assam MLA Akhil Gogoi has been acquitted by a special NIA court of all charges in the case pertaining to the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. This was the second of two cases against him being investigated by the National Investigation Agency.
Nearly 19 months after being arrested for allegedly inciting violence during the anti-CAA agitation, Akhil Gogoi walked out of judicial custody on Thursday after the special NIA court acquitted him of all charges. This was the last pending NIA case against him.
Following protests led by Gogoi and his organisation, the Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti, against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act in late 2019, several cases had been filed against him by the Assam police. Two of these cases were taken over by the NIA which accused him of having 'Maoist' links and being involved in 'seditious activities'.
While acquitting him, the special NIA court said that there wasn’t enough evidence to hold Akhil Gogoi guilty of any act of terrorism under the legislation invoked in the case registered against him in 2019. Earlier, on June 22, the court had cleared Gogoi of all charges under the UAPA, in a similar case filed against him at Chabua police station.
The UAPA charges brought by the NIA accused him of terrorist acts with the intent to threaten the unity, security, and sovereignty of India.
After his acquittal on Thursday, Gogoi was taken to the state-owned Gauhati Medical College Hospital (GMCH) where he has been receiving treatment for his multiple ailments.