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Category: Persecution

Recounting the ordeal of famed undertrials inside Taloja prison

Recounting the ordeal of famed undertrials inside Taloja prison

The Telegraph / by Pheroze L. Vincent

Gautam Navlakha and Anand Teltumbde are among the 16 people arrested for their alleged involvement in the Elgaar Parishad-Maoist links case.
The road outside the jail is paved with little chits, “like snowflakes”.
Sahba Husain, the Delhi-based author, is recalling the indelible markers chiselled into her conscience while she waited last month outside Taloja prison in Navi Mumbai to meet her partner Gautam Navlakha face to face after two years.
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PUDR: When The Process becomes The Punishment

PUDR: When The Process becomes The Punishment

Peoples Union for Democratic Rights (PUDR) / by PUDR

Tomorrow, 14th April 2022 marks the completion of two years of PUDR activist Gautam Navlakha’s surrender before the NIA. One of sixteen accused in the infamous Bhima Koregaon case, Gautam has been imprisoned in Taloja Central Jail, Navi Mumbai since 25 May 2020.  For more than six months now, since 12 October 2021, the nearly 70 years old Gautam, an undertrial suffering from multiple health problems has been in solitary confinement in one of 33 cells in the ‘anda’ circle, the High Security Area of Taloja Jail, a space meant to segregate those guilty of heinous crimes.
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Also read:
● How the ‘anda cell’ is used to discipline prison inmates (The Indian Express │ Oct 2021)
● System of solitary confinement, ‘Anda Cell’, inside the jail be stopped (Groundxero │ Oct 2021)

Bombay HC rejects Varavara Rao’s permanent bail plea; extends temporary bail

Bombay HC rejects Varavara Rao’s permanent bail plea; extends temporary bail

Bombay HC dismisses Varavara Rao’s plea seeking permanent bail, extends medical bail

13/04/2022

The Indian Express / by Express Web Desk

The court found said it some substance in contentions raised by the petitioner over conditions at Taloja central prison and said that it noted some deficiencies and passed directions in that regard.
The Bombay High Court Wednesday dismissed pleas filed by Elgaar Parishad accused Varavara Rao, who had sought permanent medical bail and permission to shift to Hyderabad in Telangana citing ill health and high expenses in Mumbai. However, the court extended the interim bail granted to Rao by three months to undergo cataract surgery.
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Bombay High Court Extends Temporary Bail Of Varavara Rao By 3 Months On Medical Grounds; Refuses Permanent Bail

13/04/2022

Live Law / by Sharmeen Hakim

The Bombay High Court on Wednesday refused to grant permanent medical bail to Telugu poet and Bhima Koregaon – Elgar Parishad accused P Varavara Rao. It however extended the period of temporary bail by three months for his cataract operation and issued directions to expedite the trial. The Court has also refused him permission to reside at his home in Telangana.
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Bombay HC rejects plea by Varavara Rao for permanent bail; extends temporary bail for 3 months

13/04/2022

Bar & Bench / by Neha Joshi

A bench of SB Shukre and GA Sanap also rejected the application by Rao to stay in Telangana during the duration of bail.
“The present petition seeking permanent bail is dismissed. Plea seeking modification of bail to go to Telangana is dismissed,” the Court said.
The Court, however, extended for three more months an earlier order granting him temporary bail.
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Hany Babu approached Bombay High Court seeking regular bail

Hany Babu approached Bombay High Court seeking regular bail


by Bar & Bench (April 13):
Bhima Koregaon accused Hany Babu has approached #BombayHighCourt seeking regular bail after it was rejected by the Mumbai #NIA Court.

No bail; ‘prima facie evidence Hany Babu part of Maoist outfit’: NIA Court

22/02/2022

The Indian Express / by Express News Service

“The same can be said to be sufficient to prima facie establish that the applicant was instrumental for the release of convict G N Saibaba, who was convicted for the activities of the CPI (M),” special Judge Dinesh E Kothalikar said in the detailed order made available on Monday.
IN ITS detailed order rejecting bail to Delhi University associate professor Hany Babu, a special court has said that there is prima facie evidence that he was ‘actively involved’ in activities of banned organisation, CPI (Maoist).
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Hearing of Anand Teltumbde’s appeal seeking bail on merits adjourned to April 26

Hearing of Anand Teltumbde’s appeal seeking bail on merits adjourned to April 26

Hearing of Anand Teltumbde’s appeal seeking bail on merits

by Live Law (April 11):
#BombayHighCourt will continue to hear Dalit scholar – #AnandTeltumbde’splea seeking bail on merits in the #BhimaKoregaon – Elgar Parishad caste violence case. Hearing before bench of Justices Sunil Shukre and GA Sanap.

+++ Adjourned to April 26. +++

by Live Law (April 7)

#BombayHighCourt will continue to hear Dalit scholar #AnandTeltumbde’s appeal seeking bail on merits in Bhima Koregaon – Elgar Parishad caste violence case. Hearing before the bench of Justices Sunil Shukre and GA Sanap
Matter called out.
…
Adjourned to Monday for further arguments.

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Bombay HC to hear Anand Teltumbde’s appeal challenging rejection of bail on April 7

31/03/2022

The Leaflet / by Sabah Gurmat

On Thursday, the Bombay High Court’s division bench of Justices S.B. Shukre and G.A. Sanap decided to post the matter of Bhima Koregaon (Elgar Parishad) accused Anand Teltumbde’s plea challenging his rejection of bail, to April 7. The 71-year old Teltumbde is an academic and activist who has been charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act [UAPA], and the High Court had been hearing his bail plea as well as a petition challenging the conditions for bail under Section 43D(5) of the UAPA.
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Bombay HC reserves order on activist Gautam Navlakha’s plea seeking house arrest

Bombay HC reserves order on activist Gautam Navlakha’s plea seeking house arrest

Bombay HC reserves order on activist Gautam Navlakha’s plea seeking house arrest

06/04/2022

The Leaflet / by Sabah Gurmat

Tuesday, the Bombay High Court’ division bench of Justices S.B. Shukre and G.A. Sanap decided to reserve its verdict on journalist and activist Gautam Navlakha’s plea seeking house arrest in place of his incarceration at Navi Mumbai’s Taloja jail, citing his failing health conditions, and lack of proper medical care and basic facilities in prison.
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Bombay High Court reserves verdict in plea by Gautam Navlakha to be moved from prison to house arrest

05/04/2022

Bar & Bench / by Neha Joshi

Navlakha prayed that he be transferred from Taloja Central Prison and placed under house arrest on the ground that the prison conditions are not suitable for a septuagenarian suffering from medical ailments.
The Bombay High Court on Tuesday reserved its verdict in the plea filed by Bhima Koregaon accused Gautam Navlakha praying that he be transferred from Taloja prison and placed under house arrest instead [Gautam Navlakha v. National Investigation Agency & Anr.]
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by Live Law (April 5):
#BombayHighCourt will shortly hear senior journalist #GautamNavlakha’s plea to be shifted out of Taloja prison and be placed under house arrest in the #BhimaKoregaon – #ElgarParishad case. Hearing before bench of Justices Sunil Shukre and GA Sanap for NIA’s arguments.

Yesterday, the judges made scathing observations against the Maha Govt for callously dealing with Navlakha’s allegations against prison officials for denying him books, spectacles and a chair.

Matter called out ASG Anil Singh for NIA Advs Yug Mohit Chaudhry along with Payoshi Roy for Navlakha

The state tries to file a second affidavit. Adv Chaudhry objects.

…

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Prison officials didn’t allow Gautam Navlakha to access P.G. Wodehouse’s book, called it ‘security risk’

Prison officials didn’t allow Gautam Navlakha to access P.G. Wodehouse’s book, called it ‘security risk’

by Bar & Bench (April 5)
#BombayHighCourt reserves order in plea filed by #BhimaKoregaon accused Gautam Navlakha seeking house arrest.

‘Comical’: HC Slams Prison Officials’ Move to Label Wodehouse Book for Navlakha ‘Security Risk’

05/04/2022

The Wire / by The Wire Staff

The Bombay HC was also unimpressed by the fact that the prosecutor did not address Gautam Navlakha’s allegations of having been denied basic rights in jail.
The Bombay high court has expressed frank surprise at Taloja prison officials’ decision to not allow Elgar Parishad accused Gautam Navlakha to access a book by one of the world’s most well-known English humour novelists, P.G. Wodehouse, by calling it a security risk.
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Prison officials didn’t allow Gautam Navlakha to access P.G. Wodehouse’s book, called it ‘security risk’

04/04/2022

The Leaflet / by Sabah Gurmat

Asking the NIA’s advocate Sandesh Patil, ‘Is P.G. Wodehouse considered a security threat?’, the Bombay High Court observed that it is really comical.
Earlier today, the Bombay High Court heard a plea filed by human rights activist and journalist Gautam Navlakha, one of the accused in the Bhima Koregaon (Elgar Parishad) conspiracy case, seeking his transfer from Navi Mumbai’s Taloja jail to judicial custody via house arrest, citing his advanced age and on the ground that he is suffering from various ailments.
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How can PG Wodehousebook be security threat; this is comical: Bombay High Court

04/04/2022

Bar & Bench / by Neha Joshi

The remarks from the Bench came after Navlakha told the Court that Taloja prison authorities had denied him a stool, his spectacles and even a book authored by PG Wodehouse.
The Bombay High Court was on Monday staggered by the allegations raised by Bhima Koregaon accused Gautam Navlakha that Taloja prison authorities had denied him a stool, his spectacles and even a book authored by PG Wodehouse [Gautam Navlakha v. National Investigation Agency & Anr.]
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‘PG Wodehouse A Security Threat? That’s Comical’: Bombay High Court Astonished At Prison Officials Denying Gauatam Navlakha Books

04/04/2022

Live Law / by Sharmeen Hakim

The Bombay High Court on Monday came down heavily on the Maharashtra Government for its callousness in dealing with serious allegations against officials of Taloja Prison, which were levelled by senior journalist Gautam Navlakha who has been imprisoned there in the Bhima Koregaon – Elgar Parishad Case.
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Why Surendra Gadling, a political prisoner, is alleging his life is in danger

Why Surendra Gadling, a political prisoner, is alleging his life is in danger

Times of India / by Parth MN

Advocate and activist Surendra Gadling, an accused in the Elagar Parishad-Maoist links case, has filed a criminal complaint against top prison authorities, claiming he is facing extreme harassment. The police, however, says that’s not the case
On November 24, 2021, Surendra Gadling “felt giddy” after visiting the toilet. The human rights lawyer and Dalit activist from Nagpur immediately went into “a semi-conscious state and fell on his back“, banging his head gainst the wall.
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Video: The Prison Song of Surendra Gadling

hindi | 11min | 2021

51- year-old Gadling, a well-known criminal lawyer in Nagpur, was once a cultural activist, who sang songs of political resistance. The 11- minutes- long rendition tells you what it means to be incarcerated in Indian prisons. From food, water, to medical care, everything is a struggle, Gadling narrates. The song was recorded by one of Gadling’s colleagues and was made available to The Wire after obtaining his consent.
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The Bhima Koregaon Arrests and the Resistance in India

The Bhima Koregaon Arrests and the Resistance in India

Monthly Review / by Saroj Giri

It often happens: A murder takes place, an utterly foul one. But there is little outcry, no lasting sense of wrong in public memory. Deep down, everyone is aware of the gross violation that has taken place in their midst. Everyone is affected and silently appalled that there is no redress, no justice. Yet normal life and routine democracy continues—at the expense of a deep scar in the inner recess of society, unseen and perhaps illegible, best described as a void. Like an abyss that stares back, will this void come to haunt everyone later, in some possibly unrecognizable form?
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Bombay HC to hear Anand Teltumbde’s appeal challenging rejection of bail on April 7

Bombay HC to hear Anand Teltumbde’s appeal challenging rejection of bail on April 7

Bombay HC to hear Anand Teltumbde’s appeal challenging rejection of bail on April 7

31/03/2022

The Leaflet / by Sabah Gurmat

On Thursday, the Bombay High Court’s division bench of Justices S.B. Shukre and G.A. Sanap decided to post the matter of Bhima Koregaon (Elgar Parishad) accused Anand Teltumbde’s plea challenging his rejection of bail, to April 7. The 71-year old Teltumbde is an academic and activist who has been charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act [UAPA], and the High Court had been hearing his bail plea as well as a petition challenging the conditions for bail under Section 43D(5) of the UAPA.
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Anand Teltumbde’s bail hearing commences before Bombay HC

30/03/2022

Sabrang / by Sabrangindia

Apart from arguing for bail, Dr Anand Telmumbde, a renowned academic, will through his counsel, also be challenging the constitutionality of Section 43(D)(5 of the Unlawful Practices Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.
Behind bars since April 14, 2020, Dr Anand Teltumbde a well-known academic, will through his counsel, Mihir Desai interrogating the anomalies in investigation and prosecution by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) apart from seriously questioning the mode and matter of garnering evidence in connection with his name being tragged into the Bhima Koregaon conspiracy case.
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Bhima Koregaon case trial not likely to begin soon, says activist Anand Teltumbde as he seeks bail

31/03/2022

Scroll.in / by Scroll Staff

His lawyer told the Bombay High Court that the NIA has claimed Teltumbde is a member of a terrorist group but he has not been charged with any acts of violence.
The trial in the Bhima Koregaon case is not likely to begin anytime soon, activist Anand Teltumbde told the Bombay High Court on Wednesday as he sought bail, reported PTI.
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NIA can’t label me terrorist in absence of direct evidence, Teltumbde tells HC

30/03/2022

Free Press Journal / by Narsi Benwal

A bench of Justices Sunil Shukre and Govind Sanap was hearing a plea filed by Teltumbde through senior advocate Mihir Desai, seeking bail.
One of the prime accused in the Bhima-Koregaon violence case – academician Anand Teltumbde on Wednesday told the Bombay High Court that the NIA, which is investigating the case, has labelled him as a terrorist without attributing any direct evidence against him. He accordingly, sought bail.
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