Senior advocates and rights activists raise concerns over the draconian application of UAPA, arbitrary arrests, and denial of constitutional rights.
If the present government comes back to power, “we will see the use of terrorism legislation in a manner that we’ve never seen before” said senior advocate of the Supreme Court, Colin Gonsalves, the founder of the Human Rights Law Network. “We’re at a very tenuous period of our history, a very dangerous period,” he added. Read more
Gautam Navlakha Released | Gautam Navlakha’s letter on release from custody
I wish to thank the Supreme Court for upholding the bail granted to me by the Bombay High Court. It proved to be a long wait but well worth it.
Although happy for myself, I am saddened that the fate of scores of fellow dissidents implicated in a variety of cases, still hangs in balance. Years of our life have been snatched from us as prisoners awaiting trial, which itself will take years to conclude. Read full letter
Others still languish in life of uncertainty, says activist Gautam Navlakha on release from custody
19/05/2024
Scroll.in / by Scroll Staff
The human rights activist was granted bail by the Supreme Court in the Bhima Koregaon case on May 14.
Human rights activist Gautam Navlakha on Sunday said that while he had been released from custody in the Bhima Koregaon case, he is saddened that the fate of several fellow dissidents implicated in other cases still hangs in balance. Read more
Gautam Navlakha Released
19/05/2024
The Wire / by The Wire Staff
Gautam Navlakha was released from custody, which had been in the form of house arrest in Navi Mumbai, on Saturday late evening, at around 8:30 pm.
The Supreme Court on May 14 lifted the stay on the bail granted to rights activist Gautam Navlakha, who was arrested in the Elgar Parishad case. Read more
It is at a time like this that one faces a critical choice: to either fall silent and submit to the authorities or to continue to strive and struggle for freedom, unmindful of the outcome.
The following is an article written by activist Gautam Navlakha during his period of incarceration.
“…..No, freedom does not die alone. At the same time justice is forever exiled, the nation agonises, and innocence is crucified anew every day.”
– Albert Camus in Resistance, Rebellion and Death.
A captive’s understanding of freedom, by its very loss, becomes acute. Severe restrictions on movement and mobility are compounded by unreasonable constraints placed on expression and speech. Read more
Draconian Laws Promoting Authoritarian Rule Should Be Repealed
Draconian Laws Promoting Authoritarian Rule Should Be Repealed
19/05/2024
Peoples Democracy / by G Ramakrishnan CPI(M)
… After BJP came to power in 2014, the situation in our country has gone from bad to worse. The situation now is akin to an undeclared emergency. The last ten years of the Modi government have seen unprecedented attack on democracy and democratic rights. The lawless laws, Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), National Security Act (NSA), Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and the central Agencies like the Enforcement Directorate (ED), CBI and Income Tax department have been used to target the leaders of the opposition parties and those who criticise and oppose the policies of the Modi government at the centre. Read more
The Supreme Court today (on May 16) has adjourned the bail plea of activist and Bhima Koregaon case accused Jyoti Jagtap to July. It may be noted that the plea for interim bail was listed before the three-judge Bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna, MM Sundresh, and Bela M Trivedi yesterday. However, it was re-listed for today. Read more
en | 7:23min | 2024
Granting bail to Gautam Navlakha in the Bhima Koregaon violence case, the Supreme Court on Tuesday noted that the trial in the case was not likely to conclude any time soon. What was this case about, how many people have been arrested and how many are out on bail? Apoorva Mandhani tells you in this video. Watch video
The cases and charges against the Bhima Koregaon 16 | Explained
18/05/2024
The Hindu / by Saumya Kalia
An update on the legal status of the 16 activists, lawyers, scholars and artists arrested in the Elgar Parishad-Bhima Koregaon case in 2018.
On March 16, human rights activist Gautam Navlakha penned a letter, piecing together words of lament and surrendering to imminent arrest. Mr. Navlakha, is among the 16 human rights defenders who were arrested without trial in 2018 under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, for their alleged role in instigating caste violence at Bhima Koregaon. Read more
Bhima Koregaon case timeline
14/05/2024
Hindustan Times / by HT Correspondent
The case relates to alleged provocations at a conference that allegedly triggered unrest near the Koregaon-Bhima war memorial in Pune
The Supreme Court on Tuesday granted bail to civil rights activist Gautam Navlakha in the 2018 Bhima Koregaon violence case, saying it might take several years for the trial to conclude considering the number of witnesses and other pertinent factors. Navlakha was arrested for allegedly making provocative remarks in December 2017 at an Elgar Parishad conference a day before violence near the Koregaon-Bhima war memorial.
A timeline of the case: Read more
SC grants bail to Gautam Navlakha: All about the Bhima Koregaon violence case, other accused
14/05/2024
The Indian Express / by Express Web Service
Navlakha was placed under house arrest in Navi Mumbai subject to strict conditions following a Supreme Court order in November 2022, after he pleaded poor health
… Timeline
Gautam Navlakha was arrested on April 14, 2020, over his alleged involvement in the violence that erupted in Bhima Koregaon village in Pune district on January 1, 2018. Sixteen activists have been arrested in the case — nine by Pune Police in 2018, and another seven by the NIA after it took over the investigation in January 2020 — and eight of them are currently out on bail. Read more
PUDR welcomes bail to civil rights activist Gautam Navlakha
15/05/2024
pudr.org / by Peoples Union for Democratic Rights (PUDR)
In the Bhima Koregaon case, with relief PUDR welcomes the Supreme Court order upholding regular bail for Gautam Navlakha, a well-known civil rights activist, author and journalist. The Bombay High Court had granted Navlakha bail on December 19, 2023, but the Court also stayed his release and gave three weeks to the NIA to appeal in the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court had extended the stay. On May 14, 2024, the Supreme Court ended the stay on bail, stating that Gautam Navlakha has spent over four years in custody, the charges are yet to be framed, and the trial would take several years to complete. Read full statement
NAJ, DUJ, APWJF Welcome Bail to Journalists
15/05/2024
Sabrangindia / by Sabrangindia
Three journalists’ unions have welcomed the bail given to journalists Prabir Purkayastha, Gautam Navlakha and Asif Sultan in three different UAPA cases. The National Alliance of Journalists (NAJ), the Delhi Union of Journalists (DUJ) and the Andhra Pradesh Working Journalists Federation (APWJF) in a joint statement hailing the bail orders warned against malicious prosecution and re-arrest of these journalists. Read more
‘Trial will take years & years & years:’ SC grants bail to Gautam Navlakha
Gautam Navlakha Gets Bail, But the Elgar Parishad Ordeal Continues
16/05/2024
The Wire / by Mekhala Saran
‘We are really hopeful now but also angry that a clearly innocent man has to remain in jail.’
On Tuesday, May 14, the Supreme Court finally refused to continue enabling the prolonged incarceration of septuagenarian activist and journalist Gautam Navlakha.
Noting that the trial would take “years and years and years for its completion,” the Supreme Court refused to extend its stay on the Bombay high court’s order granting bail to Navlakha. But the apex court only arrived at their decision — “no need for extending the interim order of stay,” it said — after Navlakha had already suffered over four years of incarceration. This includes a period of four months after the Bombay high court had already found that there was no material to implicate him under terrorism-related charges. Read more
Gautam Navlakha granted bail by Supreme Court; orders him to pay 20 lakhs for the expenses incurred during his house arrest
15/05/2024
cjp.org / by CJP Team
Noting that trial may take years to complete, SC bench of Justices MM Sundresh and SVN Bhatti refused to extend the stay on Navlakha’s bail
On May 14, the Supreme Court bench of Justices MM Sundresh and SVN Bhatti granted bail to Gautam Navlakha in Bhima Koregaon conspiracy case, arguing that the accused has already undergone 4 years of incarceration and the trial may take “years and years and years” to complete.
The Supreme Court did not extend the stay on the bail, noting that the charges are yet to be framed and six of the co-accused in the case have already secured bail. Read more
Supreme Court Lifts Stay on Bail Granted to Gautam Navlakha in Elgar Parishad Case
14/05/2024
The Wire / by The Wire Staff
Navlakha had been arrested on April 14, 2020. Since November 10, 2022, he has been under house arrest in Mumbai.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday (May 14) lifted the stay on the bail granted to rights activist Gautam Navlakha, who was arrested in the Elgar Parishad case. The Bombay High Court had granted Navlakha bail on December 19 last year, but the court had then agreed to a three-week stay on its decision in which the National Investigation Agency could approach the Supreme Court. Read more
Gautam Navlakha gets bail as Supreme Court lifts stay on Bombay High Court order
14/05/2024
Bar & Bench / by Abhimanyu Hazarika
A Bench of Justices MM Sundresh and SVN Bhatti refrained from extending the stay as the High Court order was detailed and also because the trial would take years to complete.
Gautam Navlakha, accused in the Bhima Koregaon violence case of 2018, got bail on Tuesday after the Supreme Court lifted the stay on the Bombay High Court order granting bail to the activist.
A Bench of Justices MM Sundresh and SVN Bhatti refrained from extending the stay as the High Court order was detailed and also because the trial would take years to complete. Read more
Supreme Court grants bail to activist Gautam Navlakha in Elgaar Parishad case
14/05/2024
The Indian Express / by Express Web Service
The court also said that Navlakha has to pay Rs 20 lakh towards expenses for the security he availed during his house arrest.
Four years after his arrest, the Supreme Court on Tuesday granted bail to activist Gautam Navlakha in the Elgaar Parishad case.
The court granted bail considering Navlakha’s age and that trial will not be over anytime soon. The court also noted that some of the co-accused in the case have been granted bail. Read more
Human rights activist Gautam Navlakha gets bail in Bhima Koregaon case
14/05/2024
Scroll.in / by Scroll Staff
The 70-year-old activist, arrested in August 2018, has been under house arrest since November 2022.
Human rights activist Gautam Navlakha was on Tuesday granted bail by the Supreme Court in the Bhima Koregaon case, Bar and Bench reported.
A bench of Justices MM Sundresh and SVN Bhatti granted the bail subject to the payment of Rs 20 lakh towards the cost of Navlakha’s security during his house arrest. Read more
‘Trial will take years & years & years:’ SC grants bail to Bhima Koregaon accused Gautam Navlakha
14/05/2024
The Print / by The Print Team
The top court noted the former journalist was in jail for 4 years already, and that charges in the case were yet to be framed.
The Supreme Court Tuesday granted bail to activist Gautam Navlakha, an accused in the 2018 Bhima Koregaon case, observing that the trial in the case was not likely to end any time soon.
A bench of Justices M.M. Sundresh and S.V.N. Bhatti said Navlakha had been incarcerated for more than four years and that the trial would take “years and years and years” to complete. Read more
How does pairing mobile phones and using GPS trackers on persons on bail sit with settled jurisprudence and what do experts have to say on the issue?
Last month, the Supreme Court granted the former head of the department of English at Nagpur University, Professor Shoma Sen, bail in the Bhima Koregaon case under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (UAPA). Read more
Social Activist Anand Teltumbde’s Discharge Plea Rejected By Special UAPA Court
12/05/2024
The Free Press Journal / by Charul Shah Joshi
The court said determination of the evidence and rival contentions can take place only on conclusion of trial.
The special UAPA court has rejected scholar and activist Anand Teltumbde’s plea of discharge in the Elgar Parishad case, observing that material presented by the prosecution raises suspicion and is required to be tested in the trial. Read more
Teltumbde part of Elgar plot, shows material
12/05/2024
Times of India / by Rebecca Samervel
In a detailed order rejecting the discharge plea of scholar and activist Anand Teltumbde in the Elgar Parishad case, a special NIA court on Friday said there is material which prima facie reveals about his involvement in the alleged conspiracy. Read more
Special judge Rajesh J Katariya rejected the plea, observing that the material placed on record revealed involvement of Teltumbde in the conspiracy and further disclosed grave suspicion
The special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court on Friday rejected the application filed by civil rights activist Anand Teltumbde for discharge from the Bhima Koregaon conspiracy case. Read more
