New Delhi:15 JULY 2025

The Supreme Court on Monday allowed Delhi University professor and Bhima Koregaon case accused Hany Babu M.T. to either approach the trial court or the Bombay High Court for bail, or seek revival of his previously withdrawn Special Leave Petition (SLP).

 

A bench led by Justice Aniruddha Bose passed the order while disposing of Babu’s plea seeking liberty to explore further legal remedies after withdrawing his earlier SLP. The Court clarified that the withdrawal of the SLP does not restrict his right to pursue alternative remedies available under law.

 

The apex court made it clear that the petitioner is free to seek bail in accordance with law, either before the trial court under Section 439 CrPC, before the Bombay High Court, or by filing an application for restoration of the SLP before the Supreme Court itself.

 

Hany Babu, a professor at Delhi University, was arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in July 2020 under provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). He is among several individuals charged with having links to Maoist groups and alleged conspiracy connected to the Elgar Parishad event of December 31, 2017, which authorities claim led to the Bhima Koregaon violence on January 1, 2018.

 

The Supreme Court’s latest directive offers a procedural opening to the academic, who has remained in custody for over four years and whose previous bail application before the Bombay High Court was rejected.

 

The Court refrained from commenting on the merits of the case, stating that all contentions are open for adjudication by the appropriate forum.

 

 

Background:

• Hany Babu was arrested under UAPA in 2020 in connection with the Elgar Parishad–Bhima Koregaon case.

• His earlier SLP seeking bail was withdrawn before the Supreme Court.

• The apex court has now permitted him to move any appropriate forum for bail or revive the SLP.