Guwahati News Desk: The Supreme Court of India declined the bail plea of farmers’ rights activist Akhil Gogoi on Thursday in a case relating to anti-CAA protests held in Assam in 2019.
‘It is not willing to grant bail at this stage to Gogoi’ said a bench headed by Justice NV Ramana.
Gogoi has been in jail since December 2019, arrested under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act amid large-scale anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Act protests in Assam.
Jaideep Gupta, Gogoi’s counsel during the hearing submitted that protests on large scale took place against the CAA, and that the issue should not be connected with terrorism at all.
Gupta though highlighted that there were some instances of violence at some places but there was no evidence to suggest that his client was responsible. The Senior Advocate added that prima facie it did not amount to an act of terrorism.
However, the bench replied that it cannot grant bail to him right now and that he could file another plea later. “Let the trial proceed. Courts have started functioning now,” it said.
Earlier, Gogoi’s bail was rejected by the Gauhati High Court.