In a significant development, the Bombay High Court has granted bail to former Delhi University professor Hany Babu M.T., an accused in the high-profile Elgar Parishad-Maoist links case. The court's decision, delivered on December 4, 2025, cited his prolonged period of incarceration as a key factor.
Court Cites Prolonged Detention as Ground for Relief
The bench, while considering the bail application, emphasized the length of time Hany Babu has already spent in custody. He has been in jail since his arrest in July 2020. The court noted that the trial in the complex case is likely to take considerable more time to conclude, making continued detention unjustifiable at this stage.
The NIA's Allegations and the Elgar Case
The National Investigation Agency (NIA), which is probing the case, has accused Hany Babu of being a co-conspirator. The agency alleges he was involved in propagating Maoist activities and ideology under the instructions of leaders of the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist). The case stems from an event held at Pune's Shaniwar Wada on December 31, 2017, named the Elgar Parishad, which police claim had links to Maoist groups and led to violence near Bhima Koregaon the next day.
Implications and Next Steps
The grant of bail marks a pivotal moment in this long-running legal saga. While it provides temporary relief to the academic, the charges against him remain, and the trial will proceed. The order is expected to set a precedent for other accused in the case who have also been behind bars for years without the trial being completed. Legal experts suggest this underscores the judiciary's growing scrutiny of extended pre-trial detections in cases investigated under stringent laws.
The bail is likely to be granted subject to stringent conditions set by the court, which may include restrictions on travel, regular reporting to local authorities, and prohibitions on influencing witnesses. The NIA retains the option to challenge this bail order in a higher court.
