Asha – free them all

Who Is a ‘Political Prisoner’? Rona Wilson Says Caste and Religion Are Key to the Answer

17/02/2025 Asha

The Wire / by Sukanya Shantha

Having spent six and a half years in jail, the Elgar Parishad accused also said that prisons in India are in a ‘state of emergency’.
Rona Wilson has long been an advocate for prisoners’ rights and a staunch proponent of the term “political prisoner”. However, during his prolonged incarceration in the Elgar Parishad case, Rona found himself grappling with a “moral quandary”.
With new firsthand experiences, observations from his six-and-a-half-year stay in two central prisons in Maharashtra – Yerwada in Pune and Taloja in Navi Mumbai – his activism while incarcerated, and research conducted within the confines of prison, 53-year-old Rona now views the term from a different perspective. He now approaches the subject with a deliberate focus on caste and religious dimensions.
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Also read:
▪ Many Prisoners at Taloja Jail Not Produced Before Court For Years, Reveals Survey by Surendra Gadling and Sagar Gorkhe (The Wire / Feb 2025)
▪ Punished without trial: How India’s political prisoners are being denied basic rights in jail (Scroll.in / Aug 2022)

▪ From Phansi Yard: My Year with the Women of Yerawada
Author: Sudha Bhardwaj
Publishing Date: Oct 2023
Publisher: Juggernaut
Pages: 216
Read more / order

▪ How Long Can the Moon Be Caged? Voices of Indian Political Prisoners
Authors: Suchitra Vijayan and Francesca Recchia
Publishing Date: Aug 2023
Publisher: Pluto Press
Pages: 247
Read more / order

Why Double Standards of Justice in India?

15/02/2025 Asha

Mainstream Weekly / by Sumeet Singh

According to the Indian Constitution, both Central and State governments have a constitutional duty to guarantee the democratic rights of citizens, including their Freedom, Equality, Security, Prosperity, Development, Social justice, and Social protection. Although India claims to be the world’s largest democracy, recent actions by the Central government have raised concerns.
… Numerous Intellectuals, Lawyers, and Social activists have been detained for years on unproven charges of sedition, often without trial, indicating a failure to uphold constitutional rights to liberty. For the past six years, many prominent Intellectuals, Lawyers, and Social activists in the country have been languishing in jail without trial, under false charges of sedition in the alleged Bhima Koregaon violence case. No charges of sedition have been proven against them to date, yet the Judiciary, under pressure from the Central government, has repeatedly denied them bail.
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Also read:
▪ ‘Provincial Convention against Repression’ in Barnala, Punjab (Countercurrents / Jan 2025)
▪ Fadnavis’ obsession with ‘urban naxals’, and a lawless Beed (National Herald / Dec 2024)
▪ The SC Is Making Bail Easier In Terrorism, Money Laundering Cases – Except When It Ignores Itself (article 14 / Sep 2024)
▪ Maharashtra: Activists, Lawyers Added to ‘Union War Book’, Listed as ‘Enemies of the State’ (The Wire / Jul 2021)

Many Prisoners at Taloja Jail Not Produced Before Court For Years, Reveals Survey by Surendra Gadling and Sagar Gorkhe

12/02/2025 Asha

Many Prisoners at Taloja Jail Not Produced Before Court For Years, Reveals Survey by Jailed Activists

10/02/2025

The Wire / by Sukanya Shantha

Both Gadling and Gorkhe have moved the Bombay high court seeking direction to ensure regular court visits for those in judicial custody.
… Human rights activist Surendra Gadling and cultural activist Sagar Gorkhe, with the help of others arrested in the Elgar Parishad case have identified at least 300 such cases where incarcerated persons lodged at the Taloja central prison have not been produced before the court for years at end.
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2 Elgar accused move HC, seek regular production of undertrials in courts

12/02/2025

Hindustan Times / by Revu Suresh

The petition provided details of 305 undertrial prisoners lodged in Taloja jail who were not being produced before the trial courts on due dates
Advocate Surendra Gadling and Kabir Kala Manch activist Sagar Gorkhe, arrested in connection with the Ekgar Parishad-Bhima Koregaon conspiracy case and lodged in Taloja jail in Navi Mumbai, have moved the Bombay high court, seeking directions to ensure the regular production of undertrial prisoners in the jail in respective trial courts.
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Two Elgar Parishad Accused Approach Bombay High Court to Ensure Regular Court Appearances for Undertrials

12/02/2025

Law Trend / by Law Trend

In a significant move, Advocate Surendra Gadling and Kabir Kala Manch activist Sagar Gorkhe, both accused in the Elgar Parishad-Bhima Koregaon conspiracy case and currently incarcerated in Taloja jail, Navi Mumbai, have approached the Bombay High Court. They are seeking judicial directives to ensure that undertrial prisoners in the jail are regularly produced in their respective trial courts.
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Also read:
▪ With Guards Unavailable Due to Coldplay Concert, Elgar Parishad Undertrials Mull Hunger Strike (The Wire / Jan 2025)
▪ Elgar Parishad Prisoners’ Hunger Strike Marks a Momentous Victory for Prison Rights (The Wire / Nov 2024)

BK-16 PRISON DIARIES: Sagar Gorkhe on his battle to survive Taloja jail’s brutality

11/02/2025 Asha

To mark six years of the arbitrary arrests and imprisonment of political dissidents in the Bhima Koregaon case, The Polis Project is publishing a series of writings by the BK-16, and their families, friends and partners. By describing various aspects of the past six years, the series offers a glimpse into the BK-16’s lives inside prison, as well as the struggles of their loved ones outside. Each piece in the series is complemented by Arun Ferreira’s striking and evocative artwork.

Drawing by Arun Ferreira / The Polis Project

Sagar Gorkhe on his battle to survive Taloja jail’s brutality

11/02/2025

The Polis Project / by Sagar Gorke

Address: Taloja Central Prison, Navi Mumbai; Circle Number 2, Barrack Number 4. It’s seven in the evening. The smell of the rancid wet garbage scattered carelessly in the corner of the barrack is troubling me to no end. Over it lies a layer of half-eaten leftovers, bidi butts and green gobs coughed up and spat out by tobacco chewers. Looking at it, I feel like vomiting. The flies buzz around, sit on those spit gobs and, as if on purpose, zero in on me. “Hey, go … go … shoo … go away.” However much I yell to drive them away, they just don’t seem to listen at all. I don’t know what to do.
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Court summons Taloja jail superintendent to explain why cot is not provided to accused Surendra Gadling

11/02/2025 Asha

The Indian Express / by Express News Service

The authorities said that getting a cot is difficult in the general barracks due to crowding, but mattress and pillows are purchasable from the jail canteen at one’s own expenses. They added that Surendra Gadling can be transferred to a high security prison to avail cots.
A special court designated under NIA Act has asked Taloja Central Prison superintendent to remain present before it to explain why the facility of cot cannot be provided to Elgaar Parishad accused Surendra Gadling, who had sought the same citing his physical condition and ailments.
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Also read:
▪ Many Prisoners at Taloja Jail Not Produced Before Court For Years, Reveals Survey by Jailed Activists (The Wire / Feb 2025)
▪ SC adjourns bail pleas of Surendra Gadling, Jyoti Jagtap in Bhima Koregaon case (Scroll.in / Feb 2025)
▪ Better take complete bed rest if you are suffering: NIA court rejects Surendra Gadling’s plea for walks outside prison (Hindustan Times / Jan 2025)
▪ Elgar Parishad Prisoners’ Hunger Strike Marks a Momentous Victory for Prison Rights (The Wire / Nov 2024)
▪ Elgar Parishad case accused seeks contempt action against Navi Mumbai cop (India Today / Oct 2024)
▪ Arrested BK16 Poet Alleges Intimidation After Protesting Prison Corruption (Indiejournal.in / Jul 2024)

▪ Video: The Prison Song of Surendra Gadling (The Wire / lyrics by Ramesh Gaychor)

hindi | 11min | 2021
Gadling, a well-known criminal lawyer in Nagpur, was once a cultural activist, who sang songs of political resistance. The 11- minutes- long rendition tells you what it means to be incarcerated in Indian prisons. From food, water, to medical care, everything is a struggle, Gadling narrates. The song was recorded by one of Gadling’s colleagues and was made available to The Wire after obtaining his consent.
Watch video / Listen to the song

After six years in jail, Rona Wilson and Sudhir Dhawale have been released on bail

07/02/2025 Asha

Peoples Dispatch / by Abdul Rahman

After spending six years in jail without trial, Indian activists Rona Wilson and Sudhir Dhawle were finally granted bail.
Rona Wilson and Sudhir Dhawle, two of the 16 human rights activists arrested in the Bhima Koreagaon case under India’s draconian Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), were released on bail on January 24 after spending nearly six and half years in prison waiting for trial.
… Nevertheless, they were released on stringent bail conditions including regular visits to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) headquarters, surrender of their passports, restrictions on travel outside Mumbai and a surety of 100,000 rupees (USD 1,142).
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Also read:
▪ Sudhir Dhawale interview: ‘The law remains blind to injustice even with the blindfold gone’ (Scroll.in / Feb 2025)
▪ Interview | Sudhir Dhawale’s Work Will Go on (The Wire / Feb 2025)
▪ Rona Wilson interview: ‘My arrest was a warning to others who stand against the abuse of power’ (Scroll.in / Feb 2025)
▪ Rona Wilson and Sudhir Dhawale released: Seven years of injustice by a state that punishes dissent [read order] (Sabrangindia / Jan 2025)

SC Adjourns Bail Pleas Of Surendra Gadling, Jyoti Jagtap & NIA Appeal Against Mahesh Raut’s Bail

06/02/2025 Asha

SC adjourns bail pleas of Surendra Gadling, Jyoti Jagtap in Bhima Koregaon case

06/02/2025

Scroll.in / by Scroll Staff

The Supreme Court also deferred the National Investigation Agency’s appeal against the bail granted to their co-accused Mahesh Raut.
The Supreme Court on Thursday adjourned the bail petitions of lawyer Surendra Gadling and activist Jyoti Jagtap in the Bhima Koregaon case, Live Law reported.
A bench of Justices MM Sundresh and Rajesh Bindal also deferred the National Investigation Agency’s appeal against the bail granted to their co-accused Mahesh Raut.
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Supreme Court Adjourns Bail Pleas Of Surendra Gadling, Jyoti Jagtap & NIA Appeal Against Mahesh Raut’s Bail

06/02/2025

Live Law / by LIVELAW NEWS NETWORK

The Supreme Court on Thursday (February 6) adjourned the petitions filed by lawyer Surendra Gadling and Jyoti Jagtap seeking bail in the Bhima Koregaon case over alleged links with banned Maoist groups.
A bench comprising Justice MM Sundresh and Justice Rajesh Bindal also adjourned the appeal filed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) challenging the bail granted to co-accused Mahesh Raut.
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Supreme Court Says Accused In Bhima Koregaon Case Are Not Allowing Trial To Proceed; Accused Seek Adjournment To Produce Documents

06/02/2025

Verdictum.in / by Riya Rathore

Counsel for Surendra Gadling in the Maoist link case sought an adjournment to produce documents to show that the accused are not delaying the trial in the Bhima Koregaon case.
The Supreme Court, today granted an adjournment in the bail applications of Surendra Gadling and Jyoti Jagtap in the Maoist link case after the Senior Advocate appearing for Gadling requested for an adjournment to produce documents. “Lordship may give me time to produce all the documents”, Senior Advocate Anand Grover appearing for Surendra Gadling submitted and the Court agreed.
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Also read:
▪ SC gives Maha govt two weeks time to respond to lawyer Surendra Gadling’s bail plea (Daijiworld / Dec 2024)
▪ Year after being granted bail, Mahesh Raut remains in jail as stay extended (The Indian Express / Sep 2024)
▪ SC adjourns hearing on bail plea of Bhima Koregaon case accused Jyoti Jagtap (Hindustan Times / Jul 2024)

Sudhir Dhawale interview: ‘The law remains blind to injustice even with the blindfold gone’

05/02/2025 Asha

Credits: Tabassum Barnagarwala/Scroll.in

Scroll.in / by Tabassum Barnagarwala

The writer spent six years and seven months in jail before receiving bail in the Bhima Koregaon case.
On January 24, when Sudhir Dhawale walked back into the narrow lane in the Mumbai neighbourhood of Govandi where he lived until he was arrested in June, 2018, young men welcomed him with the beat of the dhol.
His neighbours then marched in a celebratory procession to a statue of BR Ambedkar 100 metres away. Dhawale garlanded the statue and gave a short speech about the importance of safeguarding Dalit rights. And just like that, he said, his life returned to normal.
Read more

Also read:
▪ Interview | Sudhir Dhawale’s Work Will Go on (The Wire / Feb 2025)
▪ Rona Wilson interview: ‘My arrest was a warning to others who stand against the abuse of power’ (Scroll.in / Feb 2025)
▪ Rona Wilson and Sudhir Dhawale released: Seven years of injustice by a state that punishes dissent [read order] (Sabrangindia / Jan 2025)
▪ Let’s Remember the Lesson of Bhima Koregaon: Down with the New Peshwai (Sanhati │ by Sudhir Dhawale │ March 2018)

Interview | Sudhir Dhawale’s Work Will Go on

04/02/2025 Asha

The Wire / by Sukanya Shantha

The lifelong activist spent 2,422 days in jail. But through personal loss, injustice and 23 months of solitary confinement, the activist has fought for what he has believed to be right.
A day after Father Stan Swamy passed away, Sudhir Dhawale, overcome with emotion, sat down in his barrack and wrote a long poem. “Words just flowed,” he says.
Dhawale, a prolific writer, author of several books, and editor of the radical anti-caste bi-monthly magazine Vidrohi, had never before written poetry. This was his first. But in the three-and-a-half years since Swamy’s death, Dhawale has written at least a hundred more – on issues that directly impact him, on news that stirs his emotions, on politics that kept him awake in prison, on Modi, on the “Manuwaadi” government, and even on society’s apathy towards “corroding democracy.”
Read more

Also read:
▪ Rona Wilson and Sudhir Dhawale released: Seven years of injustice by a state that punishes dissent [read order] (Sabrangindia / Jan 2025)
▪ Rona Wilson, Sudhir Dhawale Get Bail After 6.5 Years of Jail in Elgar Parishad Case (The Wire / Jan 2025)

Rona Wilson interview: ‘My arrest was a warning to others who stand against the abuse of power’

01/02/2025 Asha

Credits: Scroll.in / Tabassum Barnagarwala

Scroll.in / by Tabassum Barnagarwala

The activist and researcher was released on bail on January 8 after spending more than six years in jail without trial in the Bhima Koregaon case.
At 53, researcher Rona Wilson is trying to pick up the pieces of the life he was forced to leave behind when he was arrested in the contentious Bhima Koregaon case six years and seven months ago.
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