The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday urged the Bombay High Court to dismiss a petition filed by poet Varavara Rao and two other activists, arrested in the Elgar Parishad-Maoist links case, seeking a review of an earlier order of the HC that refused to grant them default bail. The NIA said the accused were seeking the same prayer of default bail under the guise of a review.

The probe agency filed its affidavit in response to a review petition filed by the three activists—Varavara Rao, Arun Ferreira and Vernon Gonsalves—challenging a previous order of the high court that refused to grant them default bail in the case. While Rao is currently out on medical bail, the other two activists are lodged in jail. The NIA said through the petition, the accused are seeking to alter the observation made by the HC after verification of record and hearing of the case.