Supreme Court grants bail to Sivasagar MLA Akhil Gogoi in UAPA case registered by NIA

The Supreme Court of India has granted bail to Sivasagar MLA Akhil Gogoi in a UAPA case registered against him by National Investigation Agency (NIA) in connection with the protests against Citizenship Amendment Bill.

It is to be mentioned here that MLA Akhil Gogoi has supposed to be presented before the High Court on February 23.

The Gauhati High Court on February 9 set aside a trial court order discharging Assam MLA Akhil Gogoi in a UAPA case registered against him and others in 2019 by National Investigation Agency (NIA) in connection with the protests against Citizenship Amendment Bill.

Also Read: Assam government targeting MLA Akhil Gogoi for raising his voice for the people: Congress

The division bench of Justice Suman Shyam and Justice Malasri Nandi last month had reserved its decision on the appeal moved by NIA against the Special Court's July 1, 2021 order to discharge Gogoi in the case which accuses him and others of conspiring to incite hatred and disaffection towards the government, using the passage of the Citizenship Amendment Bill as a pretext and promoting enmity amongst different groups of people.

"We have allowed the appeal, set aside the judgment and laid some guidelines. The reasons why we have set aside, we have mentioned. This was a mini trial held and the court went into question of possibility of conviction rather than grounds to proceed," Justice Shyam said, while pronouncing the judgment.

The court also said there was a violation of principles of natural justice on certain points. "The prosecution was entitled to an opportunity," it added.The bench clarified that those accused, who were on bail previously, will remain on bail. It also said that there will be a day-to-day hearing in the case.