Today, the Supreme Court extended the interim bail of Gnana Prakash, an associate of the slain forest brigand Veerappan.

Earlier, he was sentenced to life imprisonment under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act, 1987 in the Palar bomb blast case.

Prakash was diagnosed with 4th stage cancer and he was released last year after spending almost 30 years under incarceration, pursuant to the top court’s direction in a writ petition filed by his wife, Selva Mary.

The writ petition was heard by the division bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Bela M Trivedi , during the hearing the State counsel mmentioned that despite prisoners convicted under the TADA being excluded from being considered under the remission policy, a letter had been written to the union home ministry recommending Gnana Prakash’s release.

While denying a request by the counsel for the convict to pass the matter over, Justice Khanna said -“Let's wait for the outcome. Meanwhile, place the guidelines on record. We have said interim order to continue,”.

“The man is already out on bail. If he were behind [bars], we would have agreed to grant a pass-over.”

Finally, the bench pronounced:

“In view of the request made by the counsel for the State of Karnataka, re-list after four weeks. State of Karnataka will place on record the policy as directed in the last order. It is also stated by the counsel appearing for the state that they have recommended the release of the petitioner and the request is pending before the Ministry of Home Affairs. Interim order to continue.”