Persecution – Page 45 – free them all

Varavara Rao Will Not Make Media Statements On Bhima Koregaon Case: NIA Court Sets Bail Conditions

20/08/2022 Asha

Varavara Rao told to remain in Mumbai, not to make statement on case to media

21/08/2022

The Indian Express / by Express News Service

Among the bail conditions set for Varavara Rao include that he shall reside within Greater Mumbai and shall furnish a detailed address of his residence.
Days after the Supreme Court granted bail to Telugu poet and activist P Varavara Rao, who was booked in the Elgaar Parishad case, the special court in Mumbai set conditions for his bail, including that he shall not make any statement with regard to the matter in the media.
Read more

Varavara Rao Will Not Make Media Statements On Bhima Koregaon Case: NIA Court Sets Bail Conditions

20/08/2022

Live Law / by Sharmeen Hakim

A special NIA court in Mumbai set 12 bail conditions for Telugu poet Dr P Varavara Rao accused in the Bhima Koregaon case, including a restriction on talking about the case at any media forum…
On August 10, the Supreme Court granted bail to Rao on medical grounds, and had imposed a condition that he should should not leave the Greater Mumbai region without the permission of the trial court.
Read more

‘No statement on case to media’: Special court sets conditions for Varavara Rao’s bail

20/08/2022

The Indian Express / by Express News Updates

Among the bail conditions set for Varavara Rao include that he shall reside within Greater Mumbai and shall furnish a detailed address of his residence.
Days after the Supreme Court granted bail to Telugu poet and activist P Varavara Rao who was booked in the Elgaar Parishad case, the special court in Mumbai set conditions for his bail, including that he shall not make any statement with regard to the matter in the media.
Read more

Also read:
● ‘First Step Towards Acquittal’: Varavara Rao’s Family on Bail by Supreme Court (The Quint / Aug 2022)
● Supreme Court grants permanent medical bail to P. Varavara Rao in Bhima Koregaon case (The Leaflet / Aug 2022)

Decide on framing charges against Vernon Gonsalves within 3 month: Supreme Court

20/08/2022 Asha

Supreme Court directs trial court to expeditiously frame charges and decide discharge pleas

20/08/2022

The Leaflet / by The Leaflet

A Supreme Court bench of CJI-designate, Justice Uday Umesh Lalit, and Justice S. Ravindra Bhat has decided to keep the petition seeking bail by Vernon Gonsalves on hold, but its direction to the trial court to begin its trial within three months comes as a relief.
Afterhearing at considerable length a bail petition filed by trade unionist, activist and academic Vernon Gonsalves, one of the accused undertrials in the Bhima Koregaon violence case, the Supreme Court on August 18 chose to keep the petition pending with it for three months. In the meantime, it has directed the trial court in Mumbai to decide whether the charges are to be framed against the accused under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Read more

Decide on framing charges against Vernon Gonsalves within 3 month: Supreme Court

20/08/2022

Bar & Bench / by Abhimanyu Hazarika

The Court also directed the special court to segregate Gonsalves’ trial from that of other accused who are absconding.
The Supreme Court on Thursday asked the special NIA court to decide on framing of charges against Bhima Koregaon accused Vernon Gonsalves within 3 months [Vernon Gonsalves vs State of Maharashtra and anr].
Read more

Supreme Court Asks Special NIA Court To Decide On Framing Charges Within 3 Months

18/08/2022

Live Law / by Rintu Mariam Biju

The Supreme Court on Thursday asked the Special NIA Court to decide on framing charges in the Bhima Koregaon case within a period of three months. The Court also directed the NIA Court to decide the discharge applications filed by the accused in the case simultaneously.
A bench comprising Justice UU Lalit and Justice Ravindra Bhat passed the direction while considering a petition field by accused Vernon Gonsalves seeking bail in the case.
Read more

Also read:
● Explainer: Arsenal Report on Surendra Gadling (The Leaflet / July 2021)

Arun Ferreira moves Bombay HC seeking default bail; Justice recuses from hearing case

19/08/2022 Asha

Arun Ferreira Approaches Bombay High Court For Default Bail

19/08/2022

Live Law / by Sharmeen Hakim

Activist Arun Ferreira, an accused in Bhima Koregaon – Elgar Parishad case, has approached the Bombay High Court seeking default bail.
Ferreira’s plea was listed before a division bench of Justices Revati Mohite Dere and Sharmila Deshmukh on Friday, however, Justice Dere has already recused from hearing any matters in the case.
In the criminal appeal under section 21(4) of the NIA Act, Ferreira claims that his position is at par with co-accused Sudha Bharadwaj who was granted default bail by the High Court in December last year, while he and eight of his co-accused were denied the relief.
Read more

Arun Ferreira Moves Bombay High Court seeking default bail; Justice Revati Mohite Dere recuses

19/08/2022

Bar & Bench / by Neha Joshi

The accused in the 2018 riots case has sought an order from the High Court on the same grounds used by the court in the order granting default bail to co-accused Sudha Bharadwaj in December 2021.
The petition was listed before Bench led by Justice Revati Mohite Dere who recused from hearing the matter on Friday, without assigning any reason. The appeal will now be heard by another Bench.
Read more

Arun Ferreira seeks default bail, judge recuses from hearing case

19/08/2022

Free Press Journal / by Staff Reporter

Arun Ferreira, one of the accused in the Elgar Parishad case, has sought default bail on parity with co-accused Sudha Bharadwaj in the case. Bhardwaj was granted default bail by the Bombay High Court on December 1, 2021.
On Friday, Ferreira’s petition came up for hearing before a division bench of Justices Revati Mohite-Dere and Sharmila Deshmukh. However, Justice Dere recused herself from hearing the plea without assigning any reason.
Read more

Also read:
● Bombay HC grants default bail to Sudha Bharadwaj, but declines the same to eight other accused (The Leaflet / Dec 2021)

Supreme Court Asks Special NIA Court To Decide On Framing Charges Within 3 Months

18/08/2022 Asha

SC Asks NIA Court To Frame Charges Within 3 Months

18/08/2022

The Quint / by The Quint

The Supreme Court also allowed Varavara Rao to approach the trial court with his plea to travel to Hyderabad.
The Supreme Court on Thursday, 18 August, asked the Special National Investigation Agency (NIA) Court to decide on framing charges in the 2018 Bhima Koregaon case within a period of three months.
Read more

Supreme Court Asks Special NIA Court To Decide On Framing Charges Within 3 Months

18/08/2022

Live Law / by Rintu Mariam Biju

Also read:
● Who’s who of those arrested and the developments in the case pertaining to each (The Leaflet / June 2022)
● What NIA draft charges submitted in court say, against whom (Indian Express / Aug 2021)
● NIA Submits Draft Charges in Bhima Koregaon-Elgar Parishad Case: Read Details (Live Law / Aug 2021)

Trial court can decide Varavara Rao’s plea to visit Hyderabad for surgery: SC

17/08/2022 Asha

The Hindu / by pti

Mr. Rao’s bail conditions do not permit travel out of Greater Mumbai
The Supreme Court on August 16 allowed activist-poet Varavara Rao, an accused in the Bhima Koregaon case, to move the trial court for permission to go to his native Hyderabad for cataract surgery in order to spare himself the expenses of doing it in Mumbai.
A three-judge Bench led by Justice U.U. Lalit asked the trial court to decide Mr. Rao’s plea, if made, for leave to go to Hyderabad, within three weeks.
Read more

Also read:
● Supreme Court grants permanent medical bail to P. Varavara Rao in Bhima Koregaon case [read order] (The Leaflet / Aug 2022)

Enforcement Directorate to question Surendra Gadling about allegedly funding Maoists

17/08/2022 Asha

ED to question Surendra Gadling about allegedly funding Maoists

17/08/2022

Sabrangindia / by Sabrangindia

A special NIA court had granted permission to the ED to conduct questioning between Aug 17 and 19.
A team of the Enforcement Directorate will today start questioning advocate Surendra Gadling in connection with allegations of funding a banned Maoist organization…
What is also noteworthy is that in June 2021, American digital forensics firm Arsenal unearthed evidence that 14 key files mentioned in the chargesheet against activist and lawyer Surendra Gadling were planted on his hard drive using Netwire, the very same malware that was used to plant false evidence on a laptop belonging to Rona Wilson, another accused in the case.
Read more

Documents link Surendra Gadling to ‘Maoist money during demonetisation, hawala fund’

17/08/2022

The Indian Express / by Chandan Haygunde

The ED will be recording Elgaar Parishad case accused Surendra Gadling’s statement in Taloja Jail between Aug 17 and 19, sources said, adding that properties in the name of Gadling and his wife are also under ED scanner.
Surendra Gadling, one of the accused in the Elgaar Parishad case, will now be questioned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for his alleged role in funding the activities of the banned CPI (Maoist), officials said, adding that the interrogations are likely to begin Wednesday.
Read more

Also read:
● Special NIA Court Allows ED To Record Bhima Koregaon Accused Surendra Gadling’s Statement In PMLA Case (Live Law / Aug 2022)
● Explainer: Arsenal Report on Surendra Gadling (The Leaflet / July 2021)

ED’s hidden agenda to implicate me in another false case to prevent release: Surendra Gadling

11/08/2022 Asha

ED’s hidden agenda to implicate me in another false case to prevent release: Surendra Gadling

11/08/2022

The Indian Express / by Sadaf Modak

In its plea, the ED has said that Surendra Gadling is an active member of the banned organisation and was involved in the raising and disbursement of funds for “violent activities”.
Nagpur-based lawyer Surendra Gadling, an accused in the Elgaar Parishad case who has been behind bars since 2018, claimed that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has a “hidden agenda” to implicate him in another “false case” to make it difficult for him to secure a release.
Read more

NIA to interrogate Surendra Gadling on allegations of money laundering

11/08/2022

The Leaflet / by Sarah Thanawala

The interrogation takes place despite the fact that Gadling has questioned the basis of ED’s investigation.
On August 10, the National Investigation Agency (‘NIA’) court, presided by Special Judge Rajesh Kataria, allowed the Enforcement Directorate (‘ED’) to record human rights lawyer and Dalit rights activist Surendra Gadling’s statement on his alleged connection with money laundering. According to the NIA court’s order, whether there are proceeds of crime or not falls under the purview of investigation and hence, interrogation by the ED needs to be permitted. Accordingly, Gadling will be interrogated from August 17 to August 19, in Taloja Central Jail.
Read more

Special NIA Court Allows ED To Record Bhima Koregaon Accused Surendra Gadling’s Statement In PMLA Case

10/08/2022

Live Law / by Sharmeen Hakim & Amisha Shrivastava

The Special NIA Court has allowed the Enforcement Directorate to record accused-advocate Surendra Gadling’s statement in a money laundering case registered last year against certain accused in the Bhima Koregaon – Elgar Parishad Case.
Special Judge Rajesh Katariya passed the order on ED’s plea seeking to record Gadling’s statement under section 50(2) of the PMLA Act inside Taloja Prison. The agency has been allowed to record his statement on 17,18 and 19 August, 2022.
Read more

Also read:
● Now, ED Wants to Probe Elgar Parishad Case, Accuses Surendra Gadling of ‘Money Laundering’ (The Wire / July 2022)

By Adv Surendra Gadling Defence Committee:
With due credit to anonymous artist and to the jailed, to be jailed lawyers

Supreme Court grants permanent medical bail to P. Varavara Rao [read order]

10/08/2022 Asha

Supreme Court grants permanent medical bail to P. Varavara Rao in Bhima Koregaon case [read order]

10/08/2022

The Leaflet / by The Leaflet

A bench, presided by the CJI-designate, Justice Uday Umesh Lalit, was satisfied that Dr. Rao did not misuse his freedom during the six-month bail granted by the Bombay High Court, and therefore deserves to be granted permanent bail for health reasons.
On Wednesday, a Supreme Court bench comprising Justices Uday Umesh Lalit, Aniruddha Bose and Sudhanshu Dhulia granted permanent medical bail to 82-years old poet, activist and teacher Dr. P. Varavara Rao, accused of inciting violence in the Bhima Koregaon case. Factors such as his old age, two and half years of custody, non-framing of charges against Dr. Rao, and his deteriorating health weighed in favour of the grant of bail.
Read more

Supreme Court Grants Medical Bail To Varavara Rao, Deletes HC Condition To Surrender After 3 Months

10/08/2022

Live Law / by Rintu Mariam Biju

The Supreme Court on Wednesday granted medical bail to 84-year old P Varavara Rao, who has been booked under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act in the Bhima Koregaon case for alleged links with banned Maoist organization.
A bench comprising Justices UU Lalit, Aniruddha Bose and Sudhanshu Dhulia passed the order in the Special Leave Petition filed by Rao challenging the Bombay High Court’s refusal to grant him permanent bail on medical grounds.
Read more

Supreme Court grants bail to Varavara Rao on medical grounds

10/08/2022

Bar & Bench / by Debayan Roy

The Court made it clear that this order shall not impact the cases of the other accused or of Rao on merits. Rao was ordered not to leave the jurisdiction of Mumbai.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday granted bail to Bhima Koregaon accused Varavara Rao, who was arrested in 2018, on medical grounds.
A Bench of Justices UU Lalit and S Ravindra Bhat ordered,
“Matter has not even been taken up for framing of charges and the discharge applications by accused and others are also pending. The medical condition of Rao has not improved over period of time so that bail granted is withdrawn. We thus find P Varavara Rao is entitled to bail on medical grounds. We thus delete the para limiting the bail to a period of time.”
Read more

SC Grants Varavara Rao Permanent Bail on Medical Grounds

10/08/2022

The Wire / by The Wire Staff

The apex court has deleted the condition imposed by the Bombay high court under which the activist had to surrender in three months from April.
The Supreme Court has granted activist and poet Varavara Rao – held as an undertrial in the Elgar Parishad case since August 28, 2018 – permanent bail on medical grounds.
Out on medical bail since March 6, 2021, the 84-year-old had moved the Supreme Court for permanent bail on the same grounds after his plea was rejected by the Bombay high court on April 13.
Read more

Granting permanent bail to Varavara Rao may impact country’s security, NIA tells Supreme Court

09/08/2022 Asha

Varavara Rao’s Acts Were Against The State, Not Entitled To Bail: NIA To Supreme Court

09/08/2022

Live Law / by Shruti Kakkar

The National Investigation Agency on Monday told the Supreme Court that it is not justifiable for Telugu poet and Bhima Koregaon – Elgar Parishad accused P Varavara Rao to seek bail on constitutional grounds when his acts are against the interest of the society and state.
“The act of the petitioner/accused has a direct impact on the unity, integrity, security and sovereignty of India. Needless to revisit the history even to date the Naxalite- Maoist insurgency has been plaguing in this country that caused immense destruction, and very significantly took many lives of police, security personnel, etc., which is principally spearheaded by the Communist Party of India (Maoist).
Read more

Granting permanent bail to Varavara Rao may impact country’s security, NIA tells Supreme Court

09/08/2022

Scroll.in / by Scroll Staff

The probe in the Bhima Koregaon case has revealed that the activist was pursuing the agenda of the CPI(M) to topple the democratic government, the NIA alleged.
The National Investigation Agency on Monday submitted an affidavit to the Supreme Court stating that granting permanent bail to activist Varavara Rao may have a direct impact on “the unity, integrity, security and sovereignty” of the country, the Hindustan Times reported.
Rao, 83, is among the 16 activists who have been charged under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for allegedly conspiring to set off caste violence in Bhima Koregaon village near Pune in 2018.
Read more

Varavara Rao’s deeds are against State and public; deserves no relief: NIA to SC

09/08/2022

Hindustan Times / by Abraham Thomas

Ahead of his bail plea hearing in connection with the Bhima Koregaon violence case of 2018, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday told the Supreme Court that awarding relief to 83-year-old Telugu poet P Varavara Rao may have a ‘direct impact on the unity, integrity, security and sovereignty of the country’.
The Supreme Court last month extended Rao’s interim bail till August 10 on medical grounds.
Read more

Also read:
● Supreme Court to hear Varavara Rao’s plea for permanent medical bail on August 10; he is not required to surrender until further orders (The Leaflet / July 2022)

Punished without trial: How India’s political prisoners are being denied basic rights in jail

09/08/2022 Asha

Scroll.in / by Umang Poddar

They are often denied items of food and clothing that other inmates are allowed to access.
Over the past few weeks, prison authorities in Maharashtra have denied basic amenities such as mosquito nets and telephone facilities to undertrials in the 2018 Bhima Koregaon case, which pertains to caste violence as well as an alleged attempt to assassinate the prime minister. Nearly five years later, even as independent reports have pointed to the fact that the electronic devices of the accused were hacked using military-grade spyware available only to governments, the trial in the case is yet to begin.
Read more

Also read:
● Sipper and straw, to mosquito nets and phone calls: Elgar accused in court for relief (The Indian Express / Jul 2022)
● Hunger Strike unto death against the harassment from Taloja Central Jail’s apathetic administration (By Sagar Gorkhe / May 20)