States »WesPosted at: Jul 13 2021 8:24PM NIA opposes Elgar Parishad accused's plea
Mumbai, Jul 13 (UNI) The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday strongly opposed a petition filed by human rights lawyer Surendra Gadling, an accused in the Elgar Parishad case, along with other accused alleging that the case is 'politically motivated' and also challenged the transfer of investigation from Pune police to NIA.
In response to the petition, NIA has submitted an affidavit before the Bombay High Court claiming that Adv Gadling and other accused in the case have filed several petitions to derail the investigation and that the sole intention of the investigating agency is to protect sovereign India from terrorism, including Naxalism which has plagued the country.
The affidavit was filed by Vikram Khalate, superintendent of police, NIA.
NIA affidavit further claimed that the petitioner is trying to scandalise and question the agency’s credibility, which is fighting for the prevention of unlawful and terrorist activities in the country, in which the Naxal plague has caused destruction at many levels.
Also, Gadling, being an accused, as such cannot “be aggrieved” by the decision to hand over the investigation to NIA, read the affidavit.
During the hearing before the high court, Gadling’s advocate S B Talekar informed a division bench of Justices S Shinde and N Jamdar that the state and the central governments have failed to file a reply whereas NIA has filed its affidavit in the case.
NIA's counsel Sandesh Patil said that he was unaware of the affidavit and needed time to go through it.
“It seems an affidavit has been filed. Give us one week to put our house in order,” he added.
The court adjourned the further hearing for two weeks.
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