In a significant development in the ongoing Bhima Koregaon case, activist and poet P Varavara Rao has filed a petition with the Bombay High Court seeking permission to relocate permanently from Mumbai to Hyderabad. The court, comprising Justices AS Gadkari and Kamal Khata, has requested the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to respond to Rao’s plea and scheduled a hearing in two weeks.
Background of the Bhima Koregaon Case
The Bhima Koregaon incident, which occurred on January 1, 2018, near Pune, has led to serious allegations of Maoist affiliations and conspiracy. Sixteen individuals were initially arrested, with nine detained by Pune Police in 2018 and seven more by the NIA after they took over the investigation. Among these, Jesuit priest Father Stan Swamy passed away in custody in 2021. However, all accused, including Rao, have since been granted bail by either the Supreme Court or the Bombay High Court.
Rao’s Legal Journey and Current Plea
Varavara Rao was arrested in 2018 and remained in judicial custody until March 2021, when the Bombay High Court granted him temporary bail for six months on medical grounds. In August 2022, the Supreme Court further supported his bail on similar grounds. However, a condition of his bail requires him to remain within the jurisdiction of the special NIA court in Mumbai unless he receives explicit permission to leave.
Rao’s petition to relocate cites age, health issues, and financial constraints as reasons for his request. He argues that continued residence in Mumbai is unsustainable due to monthly expenses exceeding ₹77,000, against his pension of around ₹50,000. Additionally, Rao emphasizes the need for familial support, which is more accessible in Hyderabad, where he owns a home and where his daughter and granddaughter, both medical professionals, reside.
Previous Court Decisions
On March 16, 2026, Rao’s earlier plea to relocate was denied by the NIA court, which held that the Supreme Court’s previous grant for temporary travel to Hyderabad did not imply permission for a permanent move. In response, Rao, represented by Advocate R Sathyanarayanan, has appealed this decision. His appeal argues that the bail condition was not intended to prevent a permanent relocation, especially considering his health and logistical challenges in Mumbai.
