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
Charges to be framed next week, all accused asked to remain present in court
The NIA had submitted draft charges in August last year based on which the court will decide on the charges to be framed against the accused.
The special court hearing the Elgaar Parishad case on Tuesday directed both the accused and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to take steps to proceed with the case and asked all accused to remain present for the hearing next week, on April 27, for framing of charges. Read more
Justice Sadhana Jadhav Of Bombay High Court, The Third Judge To Recuse From Hearing Petitions In Bhima Koregaon Case This Year
19/04/2022
Live Law / Sharmeen Hakim
A third judge of the Bombay High Court, Justice Sadhana Jadhav, recused from hearing a clutch of petitions in the Bhima Koregaon – Elgar Parishad case this year, including two petitions alleging the planting of electronic evidence through malware.
Justice Jadhav said no Elgar Parishad matters to be placed before her. the judge had earlier recused from hearing BK matters in 2019 and 2020, as well. Read more
Justice Sadhana Jadhav recuses herself from hearing pleas in Bhima Koregaon case
19/04/2022
Scroll.in / by Scroll Staff
She is the third Bombay High Court judge to withdraw from hearing petitions in the caste violence case this year.
Justice Sadhana Jadhav of the Bombay High Court on Tuesday recused herself from hearing petitions filed in the Bhima Koregaon case, Live Law reported. Jadhav is the third Bombay High Court judge to withdraw from the hearing the petitions related to the case this year. Read more
Justice Jadhav recuses from Bhima Koregaon cases, third Bombay HC judge to recuse
19/04/2022
Bar & Bench / by Neha Joshi
Earlier, Justices PB Varale and SS Shinde had also recused from the matter.
A third Bench of the Bombay High Court led by Justice Sadhana S Jadhav on Tuesday recused from hearing a clutch of petitions filed in the Bhima Koregaon case of 2018.
Justice Jadhav is the third judge to recuse from the case. Earlier, Justices PB Varale and SS Shinde had also recused from the matter. Read more
Umar Khalid Claims He Was Invited To Elgar Parishad By Former Judge Of Bombay High Court
17/04/2022
Live Law / by Live Law News Network
The National Investigating Agency (NIA) submitted a bunch of additional documents and witness statements to the court in the 2018 Bhima Koregaon – Elgar Parishad Case, in which student rights activist Umar Khalid claims that he heard that BJP-RSS persons had attacked visitors at the Bhima-Koregaon, near Pune.
On January 1, 2018 several Dalit’s had gathered to commemorate a 200th anniversary of the battle in which the British, with the support of Dalits, defeated the Peshwa army. Read more
Former Bombay High Court judge Justice BG Kolse-Patil invited me to Elgar Parishad: Umar Khalid to NIA
15/04/2022
Bar & Bench / by Neha Joshi
The statement by Khalid forms part of the additional documents which the central agency submitted to the Special NIA Court in Mumbai in the Bhima Koregaon riots case of 2018 allegedly linked to the Elgar Parishad event.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has recorded statement of former Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) student and member of Unite against Hate organisation Umar Khalid in connection with the Bhima Koregaon case of 2018 allegedly linked to the Elgar Parishad event of December 31, 2017. Read more
Umar Khalid statement among additional evidence submitted by NIA to court
15/04/2022
The Indian Express / by Sadaf Modak
In the evidence submitted to the court, the NIA has included the statement of Khalid, recorded in the office of the deputy superintendent of Tihar jail in New Delhi, where he is lodged in connection with the Delhi riots case.
Nearly two years since the last arrests were made in the Elgaar Parishad case, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) last week submitted before the special court additional evidence running into seven volumes, including the statement of student activist Umar Khalid and documents related to Stan Swamy, the Jesuit priest who passed away last year while in judicial custody. Read more
Heard of BJP-RSS attack day after being at Elgar Parishad, says Umar Khalid
15/04/2022
The Times of India / by Rebecca Samervel
Among the additional documents submitted as evidence against the accused in the Elgar Parishad case is the statement of former JNU student leader Umar Khalid, who said that a day after attending the Elgar Parishad meeting in Pune, where he delivered a speech, he came to know that BJP and RSS members attacked those who had come to visit Koregaon Bhima. Read more
Reflecting on the most poignant moments of last two years during Anand’s incarceration
Anand and I concealed our pain before each other, at least during those ten minutes, writes Rama Teltumbde Ambedkar on the weekly mulaqat with her husband.
Anand and I were married on November 19, 1983. Ours was a typical arranged marriage – arranged through a common, well-meaning friend.
I played the role of a homemaker for 37 years, raising my two daughters, looking after their needs and managing our home. It was my way of supporting Anand, who could then freely and entirely focus on his professional life and social causes that he was devoted to. Read more
