Today, Jesuit Missions, the international mission and development office of the Jesuits in Britain, along with the international Xavier Network, are calling on the Indian Government to clear Fr Stan’s name, especially in light of new evidence which proves that he was systematically targeted during a four-year campaign, during which time falsified evidence was planted on the priest’s computer. Read more
Even though there is a specific law that defines sealed cover jurisprudence, the concept also finds a mention in Rule 7 of order XIII of the Supreme Court Rules and Section 123 of the Indian Evidence Act of 1872
… In the Bhima Koregaon case also, wherein activists were arrested under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, the Supreme Court had relied on information submitted by the Maharashtra police in a sealed cover. In the case of activist Gautam Navlakha, the police had submitted a sealed envelope including information recovered from the electronic devices seized from the activist. Read more
Instead of addressing the pathetic condition of Dalits, many Ambedkarites are busy promoting a devotional cult of Babasaheb, hollowing out his radical content and helping the ruling classes exploit his legacy.
In view of the controversy my article in The Wire of January 2, 2018 created – which I did not have an occasion to respond to with an explanation due to my entrapment in the case that paradoxically pivoted on the allegation that I was the main organiser of the Elgar Parishad – this note is intended to explain the factual background and motive for my writing the article. Read more
By Bar & Bench (March 30):
Bench of Justice Revati Mohite Dere of Bombay High Court recuses from hearing default bail pleas of Bhima Koregoan accused Mahesh Raut and 3 others.
Justice Revati Mohite Dere of Bombay HC recuses from hearing bail plea of Mahesh Raut, others
30/03/2023
India Legal / by India Legal
Justice Revati Mohite Dere of Bombay High Court on Thursday recused herself from hearing the default bail petitions of Mahesh Raut and three others, who were arrested for their alleged involvement in the Elgar Parishad Maoists links case of 2018.
Earlier on March 1, the High Court had issued notice to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on the default bail plea of Raut, Sudhir Dhawale, Shoma Sen and Rona Wilson, who were arrested on June 6, 2018 under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Read more
Episode 18 of CJP’s Podcast Series RightsCast
How does the Indian Prison system strip the women inmates of their basic rights and dignity? In a patriarchal society, within a prison system that’s designed to focus on male inmates, how do female prisoners navigate their incarceration?
Listen to this in-depth podcast on the conditions of women inmates in India’s prisons where human rights activists, Adivasi leaders, student activists, lawyers and citizens-in-resistance share stories of horror and explore the plight of women in prison. Listen to the podcast
Video: Being inside the Jail is a dehumanising experience | Sudha Bharadwaj | QUAID KE PARE
By Citizens for Justice and Peace hindi | 3:13min Watch video
Video: Healthcare and Mental Health inside Prison | Sudha Bharadwaj | QUAID KE PARE
By Citizens for Justice and Peace hindi | 5:51min Watch video
Also watch/read:
● Video: The Conditions of Prisoners in Indian Jails
By All India Lawyers’ Association for Justice – AILAJ / March 2022
en | 1:21:23 | 2022
The huge number of undertrials, the overcrowding, and the disproportional numbers of Dalit, Muslim and Adivasi prisoners are part of the prison problem in India.
We are joined by Adv. Sudha Bharadwaj for a discussion on the Conditions of Prisoners in Indian Jails. Watch video
Jenny Rowena, the wife of jailed Delhi University professor Hany Babu, laments the situation of prisons in India and accuses that, as a society, we failed to have a social ethos that never undermines prisoners’ rights.
While talking to Maktoob‘s Shaheen Abdulla, she emphasized that medical negligence in prisons has led to serious conditions for Babu, who is booked under UAPA in the Elgar Parishad Bhima Koregaon case. Watch video
Supreme Court reserves its judgment on bail pleas by Vernon Gonsalves and Arun Ferreira
Supreme Court reserves its judgment on bail pleas by Vernon Gonsalves and Arun Ferreira
04/03/2023
The Leaflet / by Sarah Thanawala
Senior advocate Rebecca M. John, representing Gonsalves, highlighted the commonality between Dr. Teltumbde’s grant of bail by the Bombay high court last year and the evidence in the present case to draw the claim of parity with the high court’s bail order.
On Friday, a division bench of the Supreme Court, comprising Justices Aniruddha Bose and Sudhanshu Dhulia, reserved its judgment on the bail applications of trade unionist, activist and academic Vernon Gonsalves, and activist and lawyer Arun Ferreira for the grant of regular bail. Gonsalves and Ferreira have filed bail applications at the Supreme Court challenging the order of the Bombay High Court dated October 15, 2019, rejecting their bail pleas. Read more
Supreme Court Reserves Verdict In Bail Pleas Of Vernon Gonsalves and Arun Ferreira
03/03/2023
Live Law / by Awstika Das
The Supreme Court on Friday reserved its verdict on the bail applications of Bhima Koregaon-accused and activists Vernon Gonsalves and Arun Ferreira, both of whom have been lodged in jail since August 2018 for alleged offences under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967…
Gonsalves and Ferreira have approached the Supreme Court against a December 2021 order by which the Bombay High Court denied them default bail, even as the same benefit was granted to another co-accused, Sudha Bharadwaj. Even though this order was questioned in a subsequent review petition preferred by the two petitioners, the high court, in May of last year, refused to grant them relief. Read more
Supreme Court reserves verdict on bail pleas of Vernon Gonsalves, Arun Ferreira
03/03/2023
Bar & Bench / by Abhimanyu Hazarika
The NIA opposed the bail plea stating that long period in custody cannot be a ground to show leniency to terror-accused.
The Supreme Court on Friday reserved its verdict on the bail applications filed by two accused in the Bhima Koregaon case, Vernon Gonsalves and Arun Ferreira [Vernon vs State of Maharashtra and anr].
A bench of Justices Aniruddha Bose and Sudhanshu Dhulia concluded hearing arguments today, and reserved its order. Read more
Bombay HC quashes order rejecting bail plea of Navlakha by special court, orders expeditious rehearing
03/03/2023
Sabrang / by Sabrangindia
… Today, in 2023, the Bombay High Court has ordered the case to be heard expeditiously. However, it has been years since the Bhima Koregaon accused have had their freedom stripped from them. There is every probability that the said special court will reject Navlakha’s bail plea again, and then an appeal will again be filed in the upper constitutional courts. Why then, keeping in view the pattern of misuse of the criminal justice system with the aim of harassing human rights defenders, could the High Court not take up the case themselves at this stage itself? Read more
Bombay High Court directs special NIA court to rehear Gautam Navlakha’s bail plea for want of analysis
03/03/2023
The Leaflet / by Sarah Thanawala
The bench directed the special court to conclude the hearing within four weeks.
On Thursday, a division bench of the Bombay High Court, comprising Justices A.S. Gadkari and P.D. Naik, refused to grant regular bail to Gautam Navlakha and directed the special court under National Investigation Agency (NIA) Act to rehear the bail plea for its reconsideration. The bench quashed the special court’s order dated September 5, 2022 that rejected the grant of regular bail to Navlakha. Read more
Bombay High Court quashes NIA court order rejecting bail to Gautam Navlakha; directs rehearing
02/03/2023
Bar & Bench / by Neha Joshi
The High Court opined that the reasoning in the lower court order was very cryptic and did not have analysis of the evidence relied upon by prosecution.
The Bombay High Court on Thursday quashed an order by the special court under the National Investigation Agency (NIA) Act rejecting bail to Bhima Koregaon accused Gautam Navlakha and directed the special judge to rehear the bail plea [Gautam Navlakha v. National Investigation Agency & Ors.]. Read more
Pen mightier than sword but won’t strike terror: Counsel for Gautam Navlaka seeking bail in Bombay High Court
02/03/2023
The Leaflet / by Sarah Thanawala
Advocate Yug M. Chaudhary, appearing for Navlakha, challenged Navlakha’s connection with the alleged terrorist acts.
ON Wednesday, a division bench of the Bombay High Court, comprising Justices A.S. Gadkari and P.D. Naik, continued hearing the regular bail application of Gautam Navlakha. Journalist and human rights activist Navlakha, an accused in the Bhima Koregaon-Elgar Parishad Maoist links/criminal conspiracy case, is charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (UAPA). Read more
Bombay High Court Sets Aside Special Court’s “Cryptic” Order Refusing Bail To Gautam Navlakha, Directs To Decide Afresh
02/03/2023
Live Law / by Amisha Shrivastava
Observing that the trial court gave cryptic reasoning while refusing Bhima Koregaon accused Gautam Navlakha’s bail plea, the Bombay High Court on Thursday directed the Special NIA Court to hear and decide the case afresh.
The division bench of Justice AS Gadkari and Justice PD Naik set aside the Special NIA Court’s order rejecting Navlakha’s bail plea. Read more Read/Download Impugned Order
Bhima Koregaon 2018. Graphic by Arun Ferreira & Vernon Gonsalves
Supreme Court continues hearing the bail pleas of Vernon Gonsalves and Arun Ferreira
02/03/2023
The Leaflet / by Sarah Thanawala
Additional Solicitor General K.M. Nataraj, representing the National Investigation Agency, alleges involvement of Gonsalves and Ferreira in alleged terrorist acts through letters and documents.
On Wednesday, a division bench of the Supreme Court, comprising Justices Aniruddha Bose and Sudhanshu Dhulia, continued hearing arguments on behalf of trade unionist, activist and academic Vernon Gonsalves, and activist and lawyer Arun Ferreira for the grant of regular bail. Gonsalves and Ferreira have filed bail applications at the Supreme Court challenging the order of the Bombay High Court dated October 15, 2019, rejecting their bail pleas. Read more
‘Show Us Where They Asked People To Pick Up Guns’, Supreme Court Tells NIA In Bail Pleas Of Accused
02/03/2023
Live Law / by Astika Das
Show us where the Bhima Koregaon-accused Vernon Gonsalves and Arun Ferreira encouraged others they allegedly ‘recruited’ to pick up arms against the the government, the Supreme Court told the National Investigation Agency on Wednesday. A division bench of Justices Aniruddha Bose and Sudhanshu Dhulia was hearing the bail applications of Gonsalves and a co-accused, Arun Ferreira, both of whom have been lodged in jail since August 2018 for charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.
… After hearing the submissions of senior advocates Rebecca John (for Gonsalves), R. Basant (for Ferreira), and the additional solicitor-general, the bench decided to adjourn the hearing till Friday, March 3. Read more
Delay In Starting Trial Not Due To Us, NIA Tells Supreme Court
01/03/2023
Live Law / by Awstika Das
The National Investigation Agency told the Supreme Court on Wednesday that the delay in the trial of the Bhima Koregaon accused could not be attributed to them. Additional Solicitor General for India K.M. Nataraj told the court.
… Notably, the trial in this high-profile case has not yet begun. Senior advocates Rebecca John (for Gonsalves) and R. Basant (for Ferreira) have both pointed out that even charges have not been framed yet, despite the passage of almost five years… In this connection, also relevant are Basant’s remarks on the delay in the process. He pointed out, “They intend to examine a total of 336 witnesses and go through 2,105 documents. Several accused persons have not yet been apprehended.” Read more
Bombay High Court seeks NIA response to plea by 4 accused for default bail
01/03/2023
Bar & Bench / by Neha Joshi
The four accused have challenged an order of a special NIA court rejecting their default bail pleas. They sought parity with Sudha Bharadwaj, a co-accused who was granted default bail by the High Court in 2021.
The Bombay High Court on Wednesday issued notice to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on a plea for default bail filed by four persons accused in the Bhima Koregaon case [Mahesh Raut & 4 others v. National Investigation Agency]. Read more
4 accused seek bail from Bombay HC on parity with Sudha Bharadwaj
02/03/2023
India Today / by Vidya
Four accused in the Elgar Parishad case sought bail in the Bombay High Court on parity with Sudha Bharadwaj, who was granted default bail in 2021 in the same case.
The Bombay High Court has issued notice to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and sought a reply to the bail petition of four Elgar Parishad accused – Mahesh Raut, Sudhir Dhawale, Shoma Sen and Rona Wilson. Read more
