The Supreme Court has granted activist Mahesh Raut, accused in the Bhima-Koregaon case, interim bail for two weeks. This decision allows him to participate in rituals honoring his grandmother, who recently passed away.

A vacation bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and SVN Bhatti has granted interim bail to Raut from June 26 to July 10. The bench has directed Raut to surrender without fail on July 10. The interim bail is contingent upon the terms and conditions imposed by the Special NIA court.

"Considering facts and circumstances, and period of incarceration already undergone, and the nature of the request made, we are inclined to grant interim bail of two weeks to the applicant (Raut), which may commence from 26 June and end on 10 July. Terms and conditions of release will be stated by the NIA Special Court. NIA can request the trial court to impose stringent conditions. The applicant shall surrender on July 10," the apex court stated in its order.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) opposed the interim bail plea of 33-year-old Raut. During the last hearing, Raut's counsel informed the Supreme Court that the plea sought temporary release for him to attend rituals in Gadchiroli following his grandmother's demise.

In September 2023, the Supreme Court extended the stay originally issued by the Bombay High Court, which had granted bail to Raut, thereby suspending the implementation of the High Court's verdict.

The stay was issued by the Supreme Court in response to the National Investigation Agency (NIA)'s challenge against the Bombay High Court's September 21 order granting bail to Mahesh Raut. Raut, arrested in June 2018, is currently held in judicial custody at Taloja prison.

According to the prosecution, provocative and inflammatory speeches were delivered at an event allegedly supported by the banned terrorist organization CPI(M), which subsequently resulted in violence at Koregaon Bhima village near Pune in 2018.