Irony of Sharad Pawar’s support for Bhima Koregaon accused
09/05/2022
Deccan Herald / by Vidya
That Pawar has done nothing is a testimony to the clout wielded in Maharashtra politics by ‘Bhide Guruji’
It took Delhi-based writer-activist Gautam Navlakha 75 days to get court permission to walk in the open in Taloja Jail and get the fresh air he’s deprived of in the high-security anda cell he’s been consigned to since October. Seventy-year-old Navlakha, one of 16 intellectuals arrested in the Bhima Koregaon case, has been denied a chair despite developing back pain during his two-year-long incarceration. Last month, the Bombay High Court rejected his plea for house arrest and instead directed the Taloja Jail authorities to provide him with whatever medical care he needed. Read more
Why Sharad Pawar Is Against The Bhima Koregaon 16’s Arrests
06/05/2022
Rediff.com / by Jyoti Punwani
Despite Sharad Pawar’s assertion, the Maharashtra government has done nothing to ease the suffering of the Bhima Koregaon 16, who have been denied their basic rights to health and to communication with their families while in jail. Read more
‘The only way to kill time in prison is to read and she can’t even do that properly any more.’
‘Her knees, too, are in terrible shape. I could see how she was trying to hide her pain every time she got up from the bench where she was seated.’
Koel Sen, her daughter, tells Rediff.com Senior Contributor Neeta Kolhatkar how this “travesty of justice” has taken a huge toll on the family.
Three years, 11 months to the day.
That’s how long Professor Shoma Sen, the former head of the English literature department at Nagpur University — she was suspended after her arrest — has been in prison for her alleged involvement in the *Bhima Koregaon case. Read more
International visits by Anand Teltumbde were to further maoist agenda: NIA to Mumbai Court
International visits by Anand Teltumbde were to further maoist agenda: NIA to Mumbai Court
05/05/2022
Bar & Bench / by Neha Joshi
The central agency’s submission came in response to a discharge application filed by Teltumbde in the case linked to the Elgar Parishad event which allegedly led to the violence at Bhima Koregaon in 2018.
Bhima Koregaon accused Anand Teltumbde’s international visits were to further Communist Party of India (Maoist) activities, National Investigation Agency (NIA) has told a Mumbai court [Sudhir Dhawale & Ors. v. NIA]. Read more
Letter shows motive behind Koregaon incident: NIA
05/05/2022
The Times of India / by Rebecca Smervel
In a detailed reply seeking dismissal of activist Sudhir Dhawale’s discharge plea in the 2018 Elgar Parishad case, the National Investigation Agency cited a letter and said it showed the intentions behind the Bhima Koregaon incident as it is mentioned that Dalit sentiments were clearly against the Brahmin-centered agenda of BJP and RSS.
The NIA also opposed the discharge plea of arrested academician Anand Teltumbde. Read more
Anand Teltumbde visited foreign countries to spread Maoist ideology, alleges NIA
05/05/2022
Scroll.in / by Scroll Staff
The central agency made the submission in response to a bail plea filed by the activist.
Activist Anand Teltumbde, who is an accused person in the Bhima Koregaon case, used to visit foreign countries to spread the ideology of the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist), the National Investigation Agency told a Mumbai court on Wednesday, PTI reported. Read more
Bombay High Court rejects default bail plea of Varavara Rao and seven other accused
04/05/2022
The Leaflet / by Sabah Gurmat
The Bombay High Court earlier today dismissed a petition filed by eight activists, academics and lawyers accused in the Bhima Koregaon (Elgar Parishad) violence case, who sought review of an earlier order which dismissed their appeal for default bail.
A plea seeking default bail was filed by P. Varavara Rao, Vernon Gonsalves, Arun Ferreira, Sudhir Dhawale, Shoma Sen, Rona Wilson, Mahesh Raut and Surendra Gadling. Read more
Bombay HC Says Won’t Review Refusal of Default Bail to 3 Activists
04/05/2022
The Wire / by The Wire Staff
Varavara Rao, Arun Ferreira and Vernon Gonsalves’ petition said the high court’s previous order was based on a “factual error”.
The Bombay high court on Wednesday dismissed a petition filed by Varavara Rao and two other activists, arrested in the Elgar Parishad case, seeking a review of an earlier order of the high court which refused them default bail.
The high court said it finds it difficult to hold there was any factual error in its earlier judgement and requires a review. Read more
Bombay HC Rejects Review Plea Seeking Default Bail To Varavara Rao, Vernon Gonsalves & Arun Ferreira
04/05/2022
Live Law / by Sharmeen Hakim
The Bombay High Court has rejected a review application filed by three accused in the Bhima Koregaon – Elgar Parishad Case seeking bail and factual corrections in the order refusing them default bail.
The court disposed of a review application filed by the three, seeking factual corrections in the order refusing them default bail and subsequently release. Read more
Bombay High Court rejects default bail plea of Varavara Rao, Arun Ferreira, Vernon Gonsalves
04/05/2022
Bar & Bench / by Neha Joshi
The review application by Varavara Rao, Arun Ferreira and Vernon Gonsalves claimed there was factual error in the High Court’s December 2021 judgment, which if not rectified, will lead to “gross miscarriage of justice”.
The Bombay High Court on Wednesday rejected the plea filed by three accused Varavara Rao, Arun Ferreira and Vernon Gonsalves in the Bhima Koregaon case seeking review of the High Court’s December 2021 judgment refusing them default bail. [P Varavara Rao & Ors. v. State of Maharashtra & Anr.] Read more
Pune Police Evade The Law By Dodging Questions On Use Of Israeli Spyware On Indian Citizens
03/04/2022
Artice 14 / by Saurav Das
Despite multiple right-to-information applications asking whether the Pune police purchased or used military-grade Pegasus spyware in the Bhima-Koregaon case, its information officer evaded an answer, refusing to admit the questions on technical grounds. Experts said the police replies were legally untenable and dismissive of a growing demand for greater transparency and accountability in India’s surveillance framework.
A Pune police refusal to reply to right-to-information (RTI) queries about the use of Israeli spyware Pegasus raise several questions about whether the military-grade hacking weapon was deployed in implicating lawyers, activists, and academics in the Bhima Koregaon-Elgar Parishad (BK-EP) case, which invokes India’s draconian counter-terrorism law, the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, 1967. Read more
Media in India: Shackled and spied on
03/05/2022
The Leaflet / by Sukumar Muralidharan
Early in April, the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting [MIB] ordered 22 YouTube channels blocked, 18 based in India and four in Pakistan. Also blocked were four social media accounts and one news website. Later in the month, another 16 YouTube channels were blocked, ten in India and all others in the neighbouring State, alongside one Facebook account. Read more
An accused in the Elgar Parishad case, Arun Ferreira, has moved a plea before the special NIA court seeking reasonable quantity of usable water in jail. Read more
Four accused move special NIA court seeking discharge application ahead of framing of charges
Four accused move special NIA court in Mumbai seeking discharge application
30/04/2022
The Leaflet / by Sabah Gurmat
After the youngest accused in the Bhima Koregaon (Elgar Parishad) case, Jyoti Jagtap of the Kabir Kala Manch [KKM] filed an application on Wednesday seeking discharge, more accused have approached the National Investigation Agency [NIA]’s special court seeking discharge from all the charges imposed against them in the 2018 case.
Among the other accused, scholar, writer and activist Anand Teltumbde, activist Mahesh Raut, and activist and publisher Sudhir Dhawale sought discharge from charges in the Bhima Koregaon violence case. Read more
Three accused seek discharge in Elgar Parishad case ahead of framing of charges
29/04/2022
India Today / by Vidya
Three more accused have filed discharge applications in the Elgar Parishad case ahead of the framing of charges.
Three more accused have filed applications seeking discharge ahead of the framing of charges against them in the Elgar Parishad case. Accused professor Anand Teltumbde, Dalit scholar Sudhir Dhawale and activist Mahesh Raut have filed the applications. The Special Court under the National Investigation Agency (NIA) Act will now be hearing the four discharge applications, including that of Jyoti Jagtap. Read more
Activist Anand Teltumbde, an accused in the Elgar Parishad-Maoist link case, on Thursday moved a discharge application before the special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court here, stating that the probe agency has not produced any material to show that he is a member of CPI (Maoist) or his alleged role in the case.
… Besides Teltumbe, other accused Sudhir Dawale and Mahesh Raut also sought discharge from the case. Read more
Anand Teltumbde seeks discharge from Bhima Koregaon case, says no material to show he is linked to CPI (Maoist)
28/04/2022
Free Press Journal / by Staff Reporter
Regarding an allegation of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) that he is a member of the banned organization, he has pointed out that a witness cited by the NIA in its supplementary charge sheet had mentioned a book authored by him titled ‘Anti-Imperialism and Annihilation of Caste’.
Professor and Dalit scholar Anand Teltumbde accused in the Bhima-Koregaon case has sought a discharge from the case, stating in his plea that the investigating agency has not produced any material before the court to show that he is a member of the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist). Read more
Jyoti Jagtap
Sagar Gorkhe
Ramesh Gaychor
One accused files discharge plea in special court, five more intend to do so today
28/04/2022
The Indian Express / by Express News Service
Special judge Dinesh E Kothalikar said the Bombay High Court has directed that the case be proceeded with on a daily basis and that he expects cooperation from both parties so that charges can be framed.
In the Elgaar Parishad case, accused Jyoti Jagtap filed a discharge application on Wednesday, while five others also sought to file discharge pleas on Thursday before the special court. The court had directed all accused to remain present before the court on Wednesday to proceed with framing of charges against them. Read more
One accused files discharge plea in special court, five more intend to do so today
28/04/2022
The Indian Express / by Express News Service
Special judge Dinesh E Kothalikar said the Bombay High Court has directed that the case be proceeded with on a daily basis and that he expects cooperation from both parties so that charges can be framed.
In the Elgaar Parishad case, accused Jyoti Jagtap filed a discharge application on Wednesday, while five others also sought to file discharge pleas on Thursday before the special court. The court had directed all accused to remain present before the court on Wednesday to proceed with framing of charges against them. Read more
Jyoti Jagtap files for discharge
27/04/2022
Hindustan Times / by Charul Shah
The Elgaar Parishad was an event held on December 31, 2017, in Pune’s Shaniwar Wada to commemorate the anniversary of the Battle of Koregaon Bhima. It had approximately 35,000 people in attendance.
Jyoti Jagtap, arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for her purported involvement in the Elgar Parishad case, on Wednesday filed for discharge citing a lack of evidence against her. Read more
Youngest accused Jyoti Jagtap moves Special Court for discharge
27/04/2022
Bar & Bench / by Neha Joshi
Jagtap was arrested on September 8, 2020 and a chargesheet was filed in October 9, 2020.
Kabir Kala Manch (KKM) member and youngest accused in the Bhima Koregaon case Jyoti Jagtap has filed an application before the Special Court seeking discharge from all charges in the 2018 case. Read more
Desolation of the anda cell / drawing by Arun Ferreira
Jail authorities should have considered books as an essential commodity during COVID: Bombay HC [read judgement]
27/04/2022
Bar & Bench / by Satyendra Wankhade
“During such terrible times, nothing more could have provided solace to a jail inmate than a book of his choice,” a Bench of Justices SB Shukre and GA Sanap said.
Jail authorities should have considered books as an essential commodity during COVID-19 pandemic, the Bombay High Court observed while dismissing a plea filed by Bhima Koregaon accused Gautam Navlakha requesting to be transferred to house arrest from jail [Gautam Navlakha v. National Investigation Agency & Anr.] Read more Read judgement
Bombay High Court dismisses Gautam Navlakha’s plea seeking transfer from jail to house arrest
26/04/2022
The Indian Express / by Omkar Gokhale
A division bench of Justice Sunil B Shukre and Justice Govinda A Sanap also directed the Superintendent of Taloja central prison to ensure medical facilities are provided to the petitioner.
The Bombay High Court Tuesday dismissed a plea by Gautam Navlakha, an accused in the Elgaar Parishad case, seeking transfer from the Taloja Central Prison in Navi Mumbai to judicial custody in the form of house arrest, alleging denial of basic medical care and other necessities. Read more
Bombay high court dismisses activist Gautam Navlakha’s plea of being shifted from jail to ‘house arrest’
26/04/2022
The Times of India / by Swati Deshpande
The Bombay high court on Tuesday dismissed a petition filed filed by activist Gautam Navlakha, an accused in the Elgar Parishad-Maoist link case, seeking that he be placed under house arrest instead of judicial custody in the Taloja Jail as it lacked basic facilities.
He had cited poor health and inadequate medical facilities and lack of basic necessities in prison, as grounds forseeking the shift. Read more
Bombay High Court Dismisses Gautam Navlakha’s Plea To Shift Him To House Arrest
26/04/2022
Live Law / by Sharmeen Hakim
The Bombay High Court on Tuesday dismissed a petition by senior journalist Gautam Navlakha seeking to shifted out of Taloja Prison and be placed under house arrest, instead, in the Bhima Koregaon – Elgar Parishad Caste violence case.
A division bench of Justices Sunil Shukre and GA Sanap said that whatever grievances Navlakha had in prison could be placed before the trial court for appropriate action. Read more
Bombay High Court dismisses Gautam Navlakha plea to be moved from prison to house arrest
26/04/2022
Bar & Bench / by Neha Joshi
Navlakha was granted liberty to bring to the attention of the Special NIA Judge all difficulties faced by him, which the judge was directed to redress as per law.
The Bombay High Court on Tuesday dismissed the plea filed by Bhima Koregaon accused Gautam Navlakha to be transferred from Taloja Prison and placed under house arrest instead. Read more
Varavara Rao pleas dismissed, HC asks prison to adopt measures to improve medical facilities [read order]
Bombay HC gives reasons for denying permanent bail to Varavara Rao, directs review of medical facilities in all prisons in Maharashtra [read order]
23/04/2022
The Leaflet / by Sarah Thanawala
On Friday, the Bombay High Court’s division bench of justices Sunil B. Shukre and G.A. Sanap passed the reasoned order to extend the temporary bail, of poet-activist and Bhima Koregaon case accused P. Varavara Rao, by three months. The Court had earlier passed the initial order on April 13 to this effect.
The Court was hearing a batch of petitions filed by Rao, which prayed for modification of the High Court’s previous order releasing him on temporary medical bail on the condition that he wouldn’t leave the jurisdiction of Mumbai. Rao had prayed to the court to modify his temporary release into a permanent medical bail and to allow him to move to Hyderabad, where his family resides, as the cost of living in Mumbai was very high for him. Read more Read order
Take Corrective Measures So Accused Can’t Cite Poor Medical Facilities To Seek Bail: Bombay HC To Jail Authorities On Dismissing Varavara Rao’s Plea
23/04/2022
Live Law / by Sharmeen Hakim
The Bombay High Court has issued certain directions for improving prison conditions and medical facilities therein, so that complaints of Bhima Koregaon accused Varavara Rao as well as those made by other prison inmates are addressed, and there is no scope for them to seek bail on those grounds in the future.
“If the strict view of the matter is not taken and appropriate directions are not issued to rectify the deficiencies, all the under-trial prisoners would make a grievance of the same and apply for bail,” their order refusing permanent bail on medical grounds to Rao. Read more
Varavara Rao pleas dismissed, HC asks prison to adopt measures to improve medical facilities
23/04/2022
The Indian Express / by Express News Service
Senior advocate Anand Grover, representing Rao, who was arrested in August 2018, had contended that Varavara Rao’s condition was worsening due to Parkinson’s and his health is incompatible with the environment of Taloja central jail.
The Bombay High Court, while dismissing pleas filed by Elgaar Parishad case accused Varavara Rao, who had sought permanent medical bail and permission to shift to Hyderabad citing ill health and high expenses in Mumbai, has directed that corrective measures be adopted to improve conditions and medical facilities at state prisons. Read more
‘Seriousness & Severity Of Crime Would Remain Till Such Time The Accused Is Pronounced Not Guilty’: Bombay HC While Rejecting Varavara Rao’s Bail Plea
23/04/2022
Live Law / by Sharmeen Hakim
Refusing to grant permanent bail on medical grounds to Bhima Koregaon – Elgar Parishad accused poet Varavara Rao the Bombay High Court said that prima facie observations regarding “seriousness and severity” of the crime he is accused of would remain till he is pronounced “not guilty.”
Therefore, based on Rao’s sound clinical summary dated December 15, 2021, and the allegations against him of being the “main conspirator,” he was not entitled to medial bail, the court held. Read more
