Browsed by
Category: Case Update

Key evidence against jailed activists planted using malware, says forensic report [read report] / Video: Planted Evidence?

Key evidence against jailed activists planted using malware, says forensic report [read report] / Video: Planted Evidence?

They were Accused of plotting to overthrow the Modi government – The evidence was planted, a new report says

10/02/2021

Washington Post / by Niha Masih and Joanna Slater

Key evidence against a group of Indian activists accused of plotting to overthrow the government was planted on a laptop seized by police, a new forensics report concludes, deepening doubts about a case viewed as a test of the rule of law under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
An attacker used malware to infiltrate a laptop belonging to one of the activists, Rona Wilson, before his arrest and deposited at least 10 incriminating letters on the computer, according to a report from Arsenal Consulting, a Massachusetts-based digital forensics firm that examined an electronic copy of the laptop at the request of Wilson’s lawyers.
Read more


Computer of Rona Wilson was compromised, malware planted from outside: US Forensic Firm report

10/02/2021

Bar & Bench / by Neha Joshi

The report was prepared by a foreign digital forensics consulting company appointed by the lawyers of Rona Wilson, accused in the Bhima Koregaon case.
… Massachusetts-based firm Arsenal Consulting was appointed by Wilson’s lawyers to analyse the electronic evidence seized from his home by the Pune Police in 2018.
Read more


Read Arsenal Consulting’s full report here


Video: Planted Evidence?

10/02/2021


en | 23:20min | 2021

NDTV / by Sreenivasan Jain

In this episode of Reality Check, a new report suggests crucial evidence on which the investigating agencies built the case against activists in the Bhima Koregaon case may have been planted.
Sreenivasan Jain in conversation with Mark Spencer, Head of Arsenal Consulting; Joanna Slater, Washington Post; Vrinda Grover, Advocate Supreme Court; Geeta Bhatt, Political Analyst; N Venugopal, Varavara Rao’s nephew.
Watch video


Key evidence against jailed activists planted using malware, says forensic report

10/02/2021

Scroll.in / by Scroll Staff

The report found that an attacker used malware to infiltrate activist Rona Wilson’s laptop before his arrest, and deposited at least 10 incriminating letters.
Key evidence against a group of activists and intellectuals, who have been arrested in the Bhima Koregaon case, was planted using a malware on a laptop seized by police, a new forensics report has found, The Washington Post reported.
Read more


Incriminating Letters Were ‘Planted’ on Rona Wilson’s Laptop: US Digital Forensics Firm

10/02/2021

The Wire / by Sukanya Shantha

Investigating agencies have used these letters to implicate Wilson and 15 other rights activists arrested in the ongoing Elgar Parishad case of 2018.
For at least 22 months before the Pune Police had raided activist Rona Wilson’s residence in New Delhi and arrested him, a cyber attacker had allegedly gained access to his laptop and planted at least 10 incriminating letters on it.
Read more


Also Read:
Prison-rights activist Rona Wilson’s hard disk contained malware that allowed remote access (The Caravan, Mar 2020)
13 letters leaked by Pune police show why it’s hard to believe claims about a Maoist conspiracy (Scroll.in, Sep 2018)

Bombay HC Rejects Gautam Navlakha’s Default Bail Plea [read order]

Bombay HC Rejects Gautam Navlakha’s Default Bail Plea [read order]


by The Logical Indian (Feb 9): The Bombay High court on February 8 dismissed the bail plea of activist Gautam Navlakha who was arrested in connection with the Bhima Koregaon case +++
by The Logical Indian (Feb 9): The special court then accepted NIA’s plea seeking an extension of 90 to 180 days to file the charge sheet against Navlakha and co-accused Anand Teltumbde +++


Period under illegal detention has to be excluded in computing 90-day custody period for default bail [read order]

08/02/2021

Bar & Bench

The bone of contention was whether the period of 34 days during which Navlakha was under house arrest could be included towards calculating the 90 day period for custody prescribed under Section 167(2) of CrPC.
Read more


Bombay High Court Dismisses Bail Application Of Gautam Navlakha In Bhima Koregaon Case

08/02/2021

Live Law / by Sharmeen Hakim

A division bench of Justices SS Shinde and MS Karnik passed the order on a criminal appeal filed by Navlakha against an order of the special court, which rejected his application for default bail in June, last year. He is in prison since his surrender on April, 14 2020.
“We see no reason to interfere with the order of the trial court”, said the Court.
Read more


Bhima Koregaon Case: Bombay HC Rejects Gautam Navlakha’s Default Bail Plea

08/02/2021

The Wire / by The Wire Staff

“We see no reason to interfere with the order of the trial court,” the division bench said in response to an appeal filed by the activist.
The Bombay High Court on Monday dismissed the default bail petition of activist Gautam Navlakha in the Bhima Koregaon case.
Navlakha approached the high court last year, challenging the special NIA court’s order of July 12, 2020, that rejected his plea for statutory bail. On December 16 last year, the bench reserved its verdict on the plea seeking default bail filed by Navlakha.
Read more


Also Read: Should Gautam Navlakha’s House Arrest In 2018 Be Included For Computing Period For Default Bail? (Dec 2020)

HC Reserves Order On Varavara Rao’s Bail On Medical Grounds

HC Reserves Order On Varavara Rao’s Bail On Medical Grounds

‘His Crime Is A Crime Of Conscience´: Jaising Argues As Bombay HC Reserves Order On Varavara Rao’s Bail On Medical Grounds

01/02/2021

Live Law / by Sharmeen Hakim

The Bombay High Court on Monday reserved its order on the medical bail pleas of 81-year-old ailing Telugu poet – Dr Varavara Rao – an accused in the Elgar Parishad- Bhima Koregaon case.
His lawyers have sought for the octogenarian to be granted bail and sent back to his home, in Hyderabad, for at least three months, owing to his advanced age and neurological condition. The National Investigating agency and the State have vehemently argued against setting him at liberty due to the serious allegations against him.
Read more


Bombay High Court reserves bail plea order of Varavara Rao

01/02/2021

The New Indian Express / by Sudhir Suryawanshi

Senior Advocate Indira Jaising appearing on behalf of Hemlatha said that Rao has spent 149 days of the 365 days in a year, in a hospital ward.
The Bombay High Court on Monday reserved its order on the medical bail pleas of 81-year-old ailing Telugu poet and activist Varavara Rao, who is an accused in the Elgar Parishad-Bhima Koregaon case.
Read more

NIA Opposes Stan Swamy’s Bail; Calls PUCL, VVJVA ‘Maoist Fronts’

NIA Opposes Stan Swamy’s Bail; Calls PUCL, VVJVA ‘Maoist Fronts’

NIA Opposes Stan Swamy’s Bail; Calls PUCL, Visthapan Virodhi Jan Vikas Andolan ‘Maoist Fronts’

31/01/2021

The Wire / by The Wire Staff

The agency made the claim about the 30-year-old human rights body while arguing against the bail application moved by Father Stan Swamy.
In its latest, the National Investigation Agency handling the ongoing probe in the Elgar Parishad case has called a 30-year-old human rights body, People’s Union for Civil Liberties, a frontal organisation of the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist). The agency made the claim while arguing against the bail application moved by arrested human rights defender Father Stan Swamy. Similar claims were also made against Jharkhand-based Adivasi rights organisation Visthapan Virodhi Jan Vikas Andolan.
Read more


NIA says Stan Swamy is working to achieve the goals of CPI (Maoist)

30/01/2021

The Hindu / by Special Corrospondent

Central agency argues for rejection of bail petition.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Saturday alleged that Father Stan Swamy, accused in the Bhima Koregaon violence case, was actually accomplishing the agenda of Communist Party of India (Maoist) under the pretence of voicing concerns of the tribal community. It said that his bail plea must be rejected.
Read more

What are your apprehensions if Varavara Rao is granted bail, HC asks NIA

What are your apprehensions if Varavara Rao is granted bail, HC asks NIA

What are your apprehensions if Varavara Rao is granted bail, HC asks NIA

29/01/2021

Hindustan Times / by K A Y Dodhiya

Stressing on the need of striking a balance between fundamental rights of a prisoner to have a healthy life and the facilities available for treating ailing prisoners in jails, the Bombay high court (HC) on Thursday has sought to know from the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on their apprehensions in the event 82-year-old Telugu poet P Varavara Rao is released on bail on medical grounds.
… The court has now posted the hearing on February 3.
Read more


What is the quality of life of a 82-year-old in detention? Bombay High Court asks during Varavara Rao bail hearing

28/01/2021

Bar & Bench / by Neha Joshi

“Is it worth to wait for another emergency to happen to take him to Nanavati only because we reject his bail because of your apprehension?”, the Court asked counsel for NIA.
The Bench of Justices SS Shinde and Manish Pitale raised the question during Rao’s plea for grant of bail on medical grounds along with the plea filed by his wife seeking the Court’s intervention in view of the violation of his fundamental right to health.
Read more


‘Varavara Rao Doesn’t Have Dementia, Reject His Medical Bail Plea,’ NIA Tells Bombay HC

28/01/2021

The Wire / by The Wire Staff

When asked by the HC bench as to why Rao was taking 20 pills if he was stable, the NIA counsel said the pills were ‘age related.’
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday urged the Bombay high court to reject the plea for bail on medical grounds filed by poet-activist Varavara Rao, arguing that his present health condition is stable and that he no longer suffers from dementia.
Read more


Varavara Rao Can Be Sent Back To Prison, He Has No Dementia: NIA Submits Before Bombay High Court

27/01/2021

Live Law / by Sharmeen Hakim

Does the octogenarian poet Dr Varavara Rao suffer from dementia? The question seems to have become the focal argument in petitions seeking to set him at liberty and as both the sides are now arguing on the point whether Dr Rao’s cognitive functions are strong enough for him to be able to take care of himself or no.
… The bench then directed the hospital to submit a fresh report on Rao’s heath condition and adjourned the case for Thursday.
Read more

Varavara Rao seeks temporary bail, State suggests transfer to JJ Hospital

Varavara Rao seeks temporary bail, State suggests transfer to JJ Hospital

Varavara Rao seeks temporary bail, State suggests transfer to JJ Hospital

22/01/2021

Sabrang / by Sabrang India

Indira Jaising argued that no penological purpose would be served by keeping the ailing man detained.
Dr. Varavara Rao’s bail hearing which has been in progress since January 19 and which continued until January 21, has now been adjourned to January 27. Division bench of Justices SS Shinde and Manish Pitale have been hearing the petition and taking stock of Dr. Rao’s medical condition. Rao was admitted to the Nanavati Hospital on the court’s orders previously in view of his deteriorating health.
Read more


‘When You Are Selectively Charging People, You Are Undermining Rule Of Law’: Jaising In Varavara Rao’s Bail Plea

22/01/2021

Live Law / by Sharmeen Hakim

The Maharashtra State informed the Bombay High Court on Thursday that the state was willing to shift 81-year-old Telugu poet Varavara Rao directly to Sir JJ Hospital instead of sending him back to the Taloja Prison Hospital.
Rao, an accused under the UAPA in the Elgar Parishad – Maoist Links case, suffers from various medical complications and is currently admitted in Nanavati Super Speciality Hospital. A team of experts has informed the court last week that Rao is fit for discharge.
Arguing Rao’s bail on medical grounds, his lawyers have repeatedly emphasized the lack of infrastructure in the prison hospital to monitor his condition and therefore suggested interim bail for at least three months for the ailing man.
Read more


Ready to shift Varavara Rao to JJ hospital prison ward: Maharashtra to HC

21/01/2021

Times of India / by Swati Deshpande

The State on Thursday said Telugu poet and Elgar Parishad accused P Varavara Rao, 81, can be shifted to the prison ward of the government-run JJ Hospital where he would get all the medical care needed.
… Additional solicitor general Anil Singh for National Investigation Agency (NIA) will make his submission on January 27 in a petition filed by Rao’s wife Hemlatha, for his release on bail on medical grounds from Taloja prison.
Read more


Jail hospitals well-equipped to monitor Varavara Rao: NIA tells Bombay HC

21/01/2021

Hindustan Times / by K A Y Dodhiya

Asserting that Taloja jail hospital is well-equipped to monitor the health of Elgar Parishad case accused P Varavara Rao, Maharashtra government and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday informed the Bombay high court (HC) that the 82-year-old Telugu poet could be shifted to Taloja jail.
Read more


Grant Varavara Rao Interim Bail For Three Months – His Lawyers Plead Before The Bombay High Court

20/01/2021

Live Law / by Sharmeen Hakim

Advocates appearing for 81-year-old UAPA accused – Dr Varavara Rao – have for the first time suggested to the Bombay High Court on Wednesday that the ailing Telugu poet be released on temporary bail for three months, his conduct be monitored and he be directed to report to some authority, after which he may be allowed to remain on bail.
Read more


Do Not Send Varavara Rao Back to Taloja Jail: Anand Grover Urges Bombay High Court

20/01/2021

Live Law / by Sharmeen Hakim

Even as Nanavati Super Speciality Hospital has finally said that the ailing 81- year-old Telugu poet – Varavara Rao – is fit for discharge, Senior Advocate Anand Grover urged the Bombay High Court on Tuesday to grant him bail on medical grounds as the Taloja Jail Hospital does not have the infrastructure to monitor his condition.
Read more


Jail hospital ill-equipped to monitor Varavara Rao’s health, counsel tells Bombay HC

19/01/2021

Hindustan Times / by K A Y Dodhiya

The counsel for P Hemlatha, wife of 82-year-old Telugu poet P Varavara Rao, on Tuesday, argued before the Bombay high court (HC) that though Nanavati Hospital had said that Rao was fit to be discharged, Taloja jail hospital does not have the wherewithal to continue close monitoring of Rao’s health. Hence, she said it would be better to allow the Telugu poet to go back home to Hyderabad where his condition could be closely monitored by Rao’s daughter and granddaughter, both of whom are doctors, as per the recommendations by the Nanavati Hospital.
Read more


Varavara Rao’s bail plea: Taloja Jail inadequate to monitor his health, lawyer tells Bombay HC

19/01/2021

Scroll.in / by Scroll Staff

The activist’s counsel also said that Rao was suffering from kidney failure and a host of other ailments.
Poet-activist Varavara Rao’s counsel on Tuesday asked the Bombay High Court to grant him bail on medical grounds, submitting that the Taloja Prison hospital lacks adequate infrastructure to treat him, PTI reported.
… The court will continue hearing the bail plea on Wednesday, PTI reported.
Read more

Casteist forces cannot digest success of a Dalit scholar: Anand Teltumbde in his bail plea

Casteist forces cannot digest success of a Dalit scholar: Anand Teltumbde in his bail plea

Casteist forces cannot digest success of a Dalit scholar: Anand Teltumbde in his bail plea

17/01/2021

Bar & Bench / by Neha Joshi

Dalit activist Anand Teltumbde, accused in the Bhima Koregaon case, has sought release on bail before the Special NIA Court, Mumbai. He is presently detained in Taloja jail since April 2020.
Casteist forces cannot digest his success and his implication in the Bhima Koregaon violence is an attempt to belittle his achievements and humiliate Dalits, activist and scholar Anand Teltumbde told the Special National Investigation Agency (NIA) Court at Mumbai in his application seeking bail.
Read more


Anand Teltumbde files bail plea before Special court

15/01/2021

Sabrang / by Sabrang India

In his plea, he has completely denied his Maoist connections and has stated that he has instead been critical of the ideology.
Anand Teltumbde, former Professor at IIT and academic, has once again sought bail from Special NIA court, Mumbai as he has been in the agency’s custody since April 2020. The hearing is likely to take place on January 27 at the special NIA Court. He was earlier denied bail by the court in July 2020.
Read more


Anand Teltumbde didn’t attend Elgar Parishad, says bail plea

14/01/2021

The Times of India / by Rebecca Samervel

Refuting allegations that he was one of the conveners of of Elgar Parishad, arrested activist and academic, Anand Teltumbde, in his bail plea said he had made a brief visit to Shanirwada on December 31, 2017, to meet his wife’s nephew and sister-in-law and that he was in Pune to attend the wedding of his former classmate’s son.
Read more


Have always been critical of Maoist ideology, says Anand Teltumbde in bail plea

14/01/2021

India Today / by Vidya

Anand Teltumbde, an accused in the Bhima Koregaon violence case, filed a bail application before a special NIA court on Wednesday and argued that investigators have no evidence about his alleged association with the Maoists.
In his 64-page bail plea, Teltumbde said contrary to the allegations levelled against him, he has always been critical of the Maoist ideology and even a written a book on the subject.
Read more


Activist Anand Teltumbde Files New Bail Plea

12/01/2021

Outlook / by Outlook Web Bureau

Months after a special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in Mumbai refused to grant “default” bail to academician-activist Anand Teltumbde, he moved a fresh bail plea before court on Tuesday.
Read more

Sudha Bharadwaj allowed access to 5 books per month from outside jail

Sudha Bharadwaj allowed access to 5 books per month from outside jail

Sudha Bharadwaj allowed access to 5 books per month from outside jail

14/01/2021

Hindustan Times / by Charul Shah

The special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court on Tuesday allowed access to books from outside the prison, to activist and lawyer Sudha Bharadwaj.
The special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court on Tuesday allowed access to books from outside the prison, to activist and lawyer Sudha Bharadwaj. The court has, however, asked the prison authorities to check the contents, if they are objectionable, before allowing the same.
Read more


NIA Court Allows Sudha Bharadwaj’s Application Seeking Access To Five Books A Month From Outside

14/01/2021

Live Law / by Nitish Kashyap

The special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court on Tuesday allowed access of five books a month to lawyer and activist Sudha Bharadwaj, who is a accused in the caste based violence that took place on the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Bhima Koregaon on January 1, 2018.
Special Judge DE Kothalikar directed the Superintendent of Byculla District Prison to grant the access of books to Sudha Bharadwaj with the condition that the said books will be examined by him.
Read more

Consider Varavara Rao’s age, health while arguing against bail plea: Bombay HC to NIA [read order]

Consider Varavara Rao’s age, health while arguing against bail plea: Bombay HC to NIA [read order]

Consider Varavara Rao’s age, health while arguing against bail plea: Bombay HC to NIA [read order]

14/01/2021

Sabrang / by Sabrang India

The court further extended his hospital stay while taking on record his medical reports filed by the hospital.
The Bombay High Court commented, during the hearing of Dr. Varavara Rao’s bail plea, that the government and the NIA should take into consideration his age and ailing condition while arguing against the plea. The next hearing is scheduled for January 19, as per court’s orders. It is expected that on the next date, parties will make submissions with regards to the bail plea.
Read more


Consider Varavara Rao’s age and health: Bombay HC tells NIA on activist’s medical bail plea

13/01/2021

Scroll.in / by Scroll Staff

The NIA presented two fresh reports from Nanavati Hospital on Rao’s health to the court.
The Bombay High Court on Wednesday said that the National Investigation Agency and Maharashtra government should keep in mind the age and health condition of poet-activist Varavara Rao while making submissions on his bail plea, PTI reported. A bench of Justices SS Shinde and Manish Pitale was hearing the plea moved by Rao’s wife Hemlata, seeking relief on medical grounds.
Read more

HC Orders Hospital To Submit Fresh Report On Varvara Rao’s Health Condition [read order]

HC Orders Hospital To Submit Fresh Report On Varvara Rao’s Health Condition [read order]

Bombay HC Orders Nanavati Hospital To Submit Fresh Report On Varvara Rao’s Health Condition [read order]

08/01/2021

Live Law / by Nitish Kashyap

The Bombay High Court on Thursday directed the Nanavati Super Speciality Hospital at Mumbai to submit a fresh report about the health condition of Dr. PV Varavara Rao on the next date of hearing on January 13 and observed that the 81-year-old Telugu poet accused in the Bhima Koregaon violence will remain in hospital till then.
Read more


Court allows Varavara Rao to stay in hospital till January 13

07/01/2021

Hindustan Times / by K A Y Dodhia

Rao is among over a dozen scholars and rights activists arrested for their alleged links with Maoists and for allegedly instigating violence at Bhima Koregaon near Pune in 2018.
The Bombay high court on Thursday allowed ailing jailed Telugu poet P Varavara Rao, 82, to remain until January 13 in a Mumbai hospital, where he was late last year admitted to on the court’s directions for better treatment.
The extension was granted even as Rao’s condition has improved after his wife, P Hemlatha, sought one-week to go through his medical reports. It also scheduled the hearing of his bail plea on health grounds on January 13.
Read more


Varavara Rao to remain in hospital till next week, says HC

07/01/2021

The Telegraph / by Telegraph Bureau, Agencies

Division bench extends activist’s stay, state government submits health update.
The Bombay High Court on Thursday said that jailed Telugu poet-activist Varavara Rao will continue to stay at a private hospital in Mumbai till January 13.
Rao, 80, an accused in the Elgar Parishad-Maoist links case, was admitted to Nanavati Hospital in the city owing to his health issues in November following the court’s orders.
Read more