NEW DELHI: The National Investigation Agency has opposed a plea by activist Gautam Navlakha, placed under house arrest in Mumbai, for shifting him to a house in Alibag area in Maharashtra.

Navlakha is an accused in the Bhima Koregaon case.

Additional Solicitor General S V Raju, appearing for the NIA and the Maharashtra government, submitted before a bench of Justices K M Joseph and B V Nagarathna that house in Alibag, where Navlakha wants to shift, is 110 Km from the trial court and more than seven hours would be spent in taking him to the court and then taking back to his residence.

Navlakha’s counsel submitted that Alibag is in the same district as Taloja jail, where he was lodged while questioning the contention regarding distance.  

Raju said that the house in Alibag area is located in a residential area where it is very difficult to cordon off, while vehemently opposing Navlakha’s plea.

He said, “it is not feasible keeping the security aspect in mind”.

Raju further alleged that the ground taken by Navlakha for house arrest was a farce.

The accused had requested the court to move him from a jail to house arrest on health grounds, citing absence of good health facilities, Raju said, adding that the area, where he seeks to shift does not have any super speciality hospital.

Navlakha's counsel Nitya Ramakrishnan said that they can certainly discuss with the probe agency regarding the area where he can be put under house arrest.

After hearing submissions, the top court asked Raju to bring on record agency’s objection and fixed the matter for further hearing in August.

On November 10, last year, the top court had allowed Navlakha to be placed under house arrest after considering his deteriorating health and also asked him to provide local surety of Rs 2 lakh by November 14.

On April 28, this year, the top court had directed Navlakha to deposit another Rs 8 lakh for making available police personnel for his security.