Persecution – Page 47 – free them all

Supreme Court Posts Varavara Rao’s Bail Plea For Final Hearing On August 10; Interim Bail Extended

19/07/2022 Asha

Supreme Court to hear Varavara Rao’s plea for permanent medical bail on August 10; he is not required to surrender until further orders

19/07/2022

The Leaflet / by Sarah Thanawala

Decks are cleared for the Supreme Court’s final hearing in the matter with the issue of formal notice to NIA.
The Supreme Court, on Tuesday, issued a notice to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on a petition filed by activist, poet, and teacher, P.V. Varavara Rao, an accused in the Bhima Koregaon-Elgar Parishad case, against the Bombay High Court’s order refusing him a permanent medical bail.
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Supreme Court Posts Varavara Rao’s Bail Plea For Final Hearing On August 10; Interim Bail Extended

19/07/2022

Live Law / by Rintu Mariam Biju

The Supreme Court on Tuesday posted the regular bail plea of Telugu poet and Bhima Koregaon – Elgar Parishad accused P Varavara Rao on medical grounds for final hearing on August 10.
While doing so, a Bench comprising Justices UU Lalit, Ravindra Bhat and Sudhanshu Dhulia also formally issued notice, seeking the response of the National Investigation Authority.
“Considering the nature of controversy of the matter, the matter shall be disposed of in the next occasion. Since we had not issued notice earlier, issue notice, returnable on August 10, 2022.”
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SC extends Varavara Rao’s interim bail till further orders, issues notice to NIA

19/07/2022

Scroll.in / by Scroll Staff

The court also said that it will hear the activist’s plea for permanent medical bail for the final time on August 10.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued a notice to the National Investigation Agency in connection with a plea filed by activist Varavara Rao seeking permanent bail on medical grounds, PTI reported.
A bench headed by Justices UU Lalit, Ravindra Bhat and Sudhanshu Dhulia also extended Rao’s interim bail till further orders.
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Also read:
● Supreme Court Extends Interim Protection Of Varavara Rao; Adjourns Bail Plea To July 19 (Live Law / July 2022)

Despite the Evidence, Courts Yet to Take Note of Spyware Used Against Elgar Parishad Accused

18/07/2022 Asha

The Wire / by Sukanya Shantha

The evidence of malware use has now come in from multiple studies, but the accused remain in jail and the trial is yet to begin.
It has been a year since The Wire, along with 16 other international media organisations – all part of the Pegasus Project – reported how at least eight activists, lawyers and academics arrested for their supposed role in the Elgar Parishad case were on the leaked database as probable Pegasus targets. Besides the accused persons, their family members, lawyers, associated activists and, in some cases, minor children too appeared on the list.
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Also read:
● Police Linked to Hacking Campaign to Frame Indian Activists (Wired.com / June 2022)
● Leaked Data Shows Surveillance Net in Elgar Parishad Case May Have Crossed a Line (The Wire / July 2021)

Why did India´s media ignore Wired story on plice planting evidence against Bhima Koregaon activists?

14/07/2022 Asha

Newslaundry / by Kalpana Sharma

News is always “breaking” and stories are sometimes “broken”. But then you also have important stories that are “broken” but are quickly forgotten. Not always deliberately, although sometimes that is the case. Quite often because there is just too much news breaking all around us, genuine and fake. As a result, many important stories that need to be followed up are relegated to the archives.
… But first to an important investigative story that got barely reported in the Indian media.
I refer to the remarkable story broken by the Wired magazine on June 16. Headlined “Police linked to hacking campaign to frame Indian activists”, the story describes in some detail how the Indian police were able to plant evidence on the computers of some activists that ultimately led to their arrest.
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Also read:
● Police Linked to Hacking Campaign to Frame Indian Activists (Wired.com / June 2022)
● The unravelling of a conspiracy: were the 16 charged with plotting to kill India’s prime minister framed? (The Guardian / Aug 2021)
● Explainer: Arsenal Report on Surendra Gadling (The Leaflet / July 2021)
● They were Accused of plotting to overthrow the Modi government – The evidence was planted, a new report says (Washington Post / Feb 2021)

Sipper and straw, to mosquito nets and phone calls: Elgar accused in court for relief

13/07/2022 Asha

The Indian Express / by Sadaf Modak

Varavara Rao is currently on bail on medical grounds, and had challenged in the Supreme Court the High Court order rejecting his appeal.
… Incidentally, the High Court had also noted the claims made by Rao’s counsel on the lack of medical facilities at the Taloja prison and the poor hygienic conditions there, saying there was substance in the argument.
In the trial in the case, the Elgar Parishad accused have repeatedly brought up the lack of facilities in prison, and denial of access to the same.
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Supreme Court Extends Interim Protection Of Varavara Rao; Adjourns Bail Plea To July 19

12/07/2022 Asha

VV Rao, Feb 2021

Supreme Court Extends Interim Protection Of Varavara Rao; Adjourns Bail Plea To July 19

12/07/2022

Live Law / by Livelaw News Network

The Supreme Court on Monday adjourned to July 19 the hearing of the petition filed by octogenarian P Varavara Rao seeking bail in the Bhima Koregaon case.
A bench comprising Justices UU Lalit, S Ravindra Bhat and Sudhanshu Dhulia granted the adjournment at a request made by Solicitor General of India, Tushar Mehta.
The SG requested for adjournment and agreed that the interim protection given by the Bombay High Court to Rao from surrender, which is expiring today, can be extended.
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SC extends activist Varavara Rao’s interim bail till further orders

12/07/2022

Scroll.in / by Scroll Staff

His plea seeking permanent medical bail will be heard on July 19.
The Supreme Court on Monday extended the interim bail granted to activist Varavara Rao till further orders, Live Law reported. The court will hear the activist’s plea seeking permanent medical bail on July 19.
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Supreme Court to hear Varavara Rao’s appeal against Bombay High Court’s refusal to extend his medical bail

30/06/2022

The Leaflet / by The Leaflet

Earlier today, a vacation bench of the Supreme Court directed its registry to list on July 11 the appeal filed by poet, activist and teacher P. Varavara Rao, accused of inciting violence in the Bhima Koregaon case, against the Bombay High Court’s order refusing to extend his medical bail.
Senior advocate Anand Grover mentioned the appeal before a vacation bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and J.B. Pardiwala, seeking an urgent listing of the appeal, given that the due time for Rao to surrender is expiring on July 13.
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Different Courts Different Orders On Use Of Nets In “Mosquito Prone” Taloja Prison / Navlakha and Gorkhe denied net

09/07/2022 Asha

Different Courts Different Orders On Use Of Nets In “Mosquito Prone” Taloja Prison

09/07/2022

Live Law / by Live Law News Network

Just days after a special NIA court allowed an accused in the Antilia Terror Scare Case to use a mosquito net in the Taloja prison, another special court refused the same relief to Sagar Gorkhe and journalist Gautam Navlakha in the Bhima Koregaon – Elgar Parishad Case.
Special NIA Judge Rajesh Katariya in the Elgar case, however, directed the Superintendent of Taloja prison to take all precautions against mosquitoes.
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NIA court rejects plea to use mosquito nets in prison

08/07/2022

The Leaflet / by Sarah Thanawala

It’s most cruel and inhuman to deny inmates mosquito nets, says advocate for the accused, Susan Abraham.
On Thursday, a special National Intelligence Agency (‘NIA’) court in Mumbai presided by Special Judge Rajesh Kataria, rejected the plea filed by Gautam Navlakha and Sagar Gorkhe, to use mosquito nets in prison. The court allowed Navlakha and Gorkhe to use mosquito repellant ointments and natural mosquito incense sticks.
… Further, activist Jyoti Jagtap, another co-accused in the Bhima-Koregaon (Elgar Parishad) case, has prayed for permission to read books. A reply has to be filed by the State on Jagtap’s plea.
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Court rejects demand for nets, but asks jail to take precautions against mosquitoes

08/07/2022

The Indian Express / by Sadaf Modak

A special court on Thursday rejected applications filed by two accused in the Elgaar Parishad case, 73-year-old journalist Gautam Navlakha and activist Sagar Gorkhe, for access to mosquito nets at Taloja Central Jail where they are lodged. The court rejected their pleas but said that it is giving directions to the jail to deal with mosquitoes.
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Navlakha, another Elgaar accused denied mosquito net in prison

07/07/2022

Free Press Journal / by Bhavna Uchil

The court has permitted Navlakha and Gorkhe to use mosquito repellents, ointments and natural mosquito incense sticks. It has asked the jail authority to submit the compliance report.
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Also read:
● As Sagar Gorkhe announces fast unto death, Gautam Navlakha approaches NIA court seeking mosquito net (The Leaflet / May 2022)

Default bail pleas of five Elgaar accused: Matter already decided by Bombay HC, says NIA Court

08/07/2022 Asha

Free Press Journal / by Staff Reporter

A special court that recently rejected the default bail pleas of five of the Bhima Koregaon – Elgaar Parishad accused, has said in its reasoned order for doing so, that the ground on which they were seeking bail was already considered and decided by the Bombay High Court and they had no right to raise it in their present pleas.
The applications were filed by Surendra Gadling, Sudhir Dhavale, Rona Wilson, Shoma Sen and Mahesh Raut.
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Also read:
● NIA special court rejects default bail application of five accused (The Leaflet / June 2022)

Are prisoners entitled to make phone calls? Bombay HC asks prison authorities in Navlakha’s plea

08/07/2022 Asha

Bar & Bench / by Neha Joshi

Why can telephone conversations not be reintroduced, might reduce footfall in prison, the division bench of Justices Nitin Jamdar and NR Borkar mused.
The Bombay High Court on Tuesday asked Maharashtra prison authorities to clear their stand on whether Bhima Koregaon violence accused Gautam Navlakha is entitled to make telephonic and/or video conference calls from prison.
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Update by Bar & Bench (Jul 13, 2022)
+++ Bombay High Court adjourns hearing on the application filed by Bhima Koregaon accused Gautam Navlakha seeking access to telephonic facilities in prison by a week +++

Also read:
● ‘Emotional Torture’: Why Don’t Indian Jails Give Inmates a Right to Phone Calls? (The Quint / Nov 2021)
● Kin of jailed activists write to authorities to not discontinue telephone calls (Sabrangindia / Oct 2021)

‘You are immortalised in our hearts’: A cellmate’s letter to Stan Swamy on his death anniversary / Protest Fast by 11 Co-Accused

05/07/2022 Asha

‘You are immortalised in our hearts’: A cellmate’s letter to Stan Swamy on his death anniversary

05/07/2022

Scroll.in / by Vernon Gonsalves

The Jesuit priest, who had been arrested in the Bhima Koregoan case, died in custody on July 5, 2021, at the age of 84.

Dear Stan,
It’s now around a year to the day they said you went away. But it doesn’t seem as if you’ve gone. Guys like you can hardly just go away. Not from me at least, not from many many more you worked with and amongst. Actually you haven’t gone, in fact you’ve come. You’ve come to the lakhs who’ve come to know you over the last year and you’ll continue coming, down the ages, to millions more. You can’t go away, you won’t go away.
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On Father Stan Swamy’s Death Anniversary, Elgar Parishad Activists Observe Protest Fast in Prison

05/07/2022

The Wire / by The Wire Staff

Activists and lawyers have accused the jail administration of inhuman treatment towards and lack of adequate medical care for the priest and other accused in the case.
On July 5, last year, 84-year-old Jharkhand-based tribal rights activist Father Stan Swamy died in judicial custody in Mumbai.
Swamy was the 16th and last person to be arrested in the highly controversial Elgar Parishad case. He, like his co-accused in the case, suffered from prolonged and serious health complications while in custody. Swamy passed away after testing positive for COVID-19. His co-prisoners and lawyers have blamed the state for not allowing adequate medical help to reach him on time.
A year later, protesting against alleged state apathy and lack of accountability, 11 of his co-prisoners have decided to observe a day-long fast on the day of Swamy’s passing.
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Eleven activists accused in Elgar Parishad case observe day-long fast in Taloja prison on 1st death anniversary of Stan Swamy

05/07/2022

Midday.com / by pti

The protesting activists alleged that the death of Father Stan Swamy (83) was “brutal assassination by the prison administration, the NIA, and the government.” Swamy’s co-accused and activist Sudhir Dhawale, in a letter written to the Taloja prison superintendent and the case lawyers, claimed there has been no change in the jail condition, including general apathy among the prison administration and lack of medical facilities, which were among the several causes that led to Swamy’s death.
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Also read
● How the system broke Stan Swamy: A cell mate recalls the activist’s last days in prison (Scroll.in / Aug 2021)

Bombay HC Grants NIA ‘Last Chance’ to File Reply to Hany Babu’s Bail Plea

01/07/2022 Asha

Bombay HC Grants NIA ‘Last Chance’ to File Reply to Hany Babu’s Bail Plea

01/07/2022

The Quint / by pti

On 8 June, the NIA had told another bench of Bombay HC it will file its reply to Babu’s plea within two weeks.
The Bombay High Court on Friday, 1 July, granted a week’s time to the National Investigating Agency (NIA) to file its reply to a bail plea filed by Delhi University associate professor and Elgar Parishad case accused Hany Babu.
Read more

Also read:
● Supreme Court to hear Varavara Rao’s appeal against Bombay High Court’s refusal to extend his medical bail (The Leaflet / June 2022)
● NIA special court rejects default bail application of five accused (The Leaflet / June 2022)