Persecution – Page 69 – free them all

Urgent need for bail and and specialised medical treatment for critical Stan Swamy

05/07/2021 Rani

An Open Letter To Bombay High Court CJI To Save Stan Swamy

05/07/2021

Outlook India / by PUDR

In light of the worsening health conditions of Father Stan Swamy, who was arrested in connection to the Elgar Parishad case in October last year, the People’s Union for Democratic Rights (PUDR) has written an open letter to the Chief Justice of Bombay High Court, seeking immediate intervention in the case.
The complete letter sent by PUDR is published below.
Read full statement

Jharkhand Janadhikar Mahasabha (July 5):
Stan’s condition exposes how the Bhima-Koregaon case, based on fabricated charges, is being used to target activists. We reiterate – Drop all charges against Stan Swamy and all other BK16, set them free and close the BK conspiracy case +++

Urgent need for bail and specialised medical treatment for critical Stan Swamy

04/07/2021

by Jharkhand Janadhikar Mahasabha

Mahasabha demands from the central & Maharashtra governments that all necessary medical and specialised treatment be urgently ensured for Stan Swamy. We further demand that the High Court immediately grants him bail.

NHRC asks Maharashtra Chief Secretary to ensure every possible medical treatment to the imprisoned FR. Stan Swamy as part of life saving measure and protection of his basic human rights

04/07/2021

By National Human Rights Commission

Press release
The National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, India looking into the complaint alleging serious health condition of imprisoned FR. Stan Swamy( 84yrars), has today issued a notice to the Chief Secretary, Government of Maharashtra, calling upon him to ensure that every possible efforts are made in providing him proper medical care and treatment as part of life saving measure and protection of his basic human rights. The Commission has also called for a report in the light of the allegations made in the complaint and the treatment record of FR Swamy, who is very old and lodged in Taloja Jail, Navi Mumbai.
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by Indian Social Institute (July 4):
Stan is on ventilator and his condition is critical. Prayers requested +++

by Mary Lawlor UN Special Rapporteur HRDs (July 4):
Horrible news to learn that Indian HRD Fr. Stan Swamy is in very serious condition & was put on a ventilator last night. He’s spent 9 months in jail on unfounded charges.I’m deeply saddened & expect that every possible specialist treatment will be provided to him +++

by Karwan e Mohabbat (July 4):
News coming in that Fr #StanSwamy’s health has deteriorated in hospital. We urge the government provide him the best medical intervention. After a life of selfless service for those who are oppressed, Stan Swamy has been incarcerated under UAPA despite no evidence against him +++

Ensure Every Possible Medical Treatment To Imprisoned FR. Stan Swamy To ‘Protect’ His Human Rights: NHRC To Maharashtra Chief Secretary

Live Law / by Sparsh Upadhay

In a significant move, the National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, India has asked Maharashtra’s Chief Secretary to ensure that every possible medical treatment is provided to the imprisoned FR. Stan Swamy (currently lodged in Taloja Jail, Navi Mumbai) “as part of life-saving measure and protection of his basic human rights.”
NHRC has issued the notice in view of the complaints alleging the serious health condition of imprisoned FR. Stan Swamy (84yrars).
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Activist Stan Swamy put on ventilator support at Mumbai hospital as health deteriorates

04/07/2021

Scroll.in / by Scroll Staff

Swamy is in a critical condition, his friend and colleague Father Joseph Xavier said.
Tribal rights activist Stan Swamy was put on ventilator support at the Holy Family Hospital in Mumbai on Sunday, his friend and colleague Father Joseph Xavier said.
“He [Swamy] was put on ventilator early this [Sunday] morning,” Xavier told Scroll.in. “He remains in a critical condition.”
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Taloja jail official who wanted Elgaar accused shifted gets transferred

04/07/2021 Maya

Taloja jail superintendent transferred

05/07/2021

The Indian Express / by Express News Service

Had sought accused in Bhima Koregaon case to be shifted to other prison.
Taloja jail superintendent Kaustubh Kurlekar, who recently sought the transfer of the male accused in the Bhima Koregaon case to another prison, has been moved to another posting attached to the office of the Inspector General (prisons) as a part of an administrative shuffle, a senior prison department official said.
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Elgar Parishad Accused Could Soon Be Separated, Moved to Different Prisons Across Maharashtra

29/06/2021

The Wire / by Sukanya Shantha

The Taloja Central jail authorities have moved NIA court claiming that the lawyers and family members of those arrested have been giving ‘fake information’ to the media.
The activists and academics arrested in the Elgar Parishad case now have a new challenge before them – the possibility of being separated and thrown into different prisons across the state.
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Also read: Amid pandemic, India’s political prisoners struggle with failing health in unequipped jails (The Caravan, June 22)

Stan Swamy to stay in Bandra private hospital till July 6

04/07/2021 Rani

The Indian Express / by Express News Service

On June 17, taking note of “serious medical issues” in his hospital report, the HC had extended the stay of Father Stan Swamy, Holy Family Hospital for two weeks, till July 5.
The Bombay High Court Friday said Father Stan Swamy, the 84-year-old Jesuit priest and activist arrested last year in the Elgaar Parishad case, can remain in Bandra’s Holy Family Hospital till July 6. It is expected to hear Swamy’s bail plea on the day.
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Bombay HC issues notice on petition against jail authorities withholding letters

03/07/2021 Maya

Bombay HC issues notice on petition by Rama Anand Teltumbde, Susan Abraham Gonsalves against jail authorities withholding letters to and from their jailed husbands

03/07/2021

The Leaflet / by Hamza Lakdawala

The Bombay High Court Saturday issued a notice to the Maharashtra Government, the National Investigation Agency(NIA), and the jail superintendent on a petition filed by Rama Anand Teltumbde and Susan Abraham Gonsalves seeking a direction from the court to the Superintendent of Taloja Prison to allow letter communication between the petitioners and their respective jailed husbands.
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Permit Anand Teltumbde & Vernon Gonsalves To Receive & Send Letters : Spouses Move Bombay High Court

03/07/2021

Live Law / by Shrutika Pandey

A plea has been filed by wives of Anand Teltumbde and Vernon Gonsalves in the Bombay High Court seeking action against the Superintendent of Taloja Prison for withholding communication from Teltumbde and other co-accused to their family members. The matter was posted before a division bench of Justice S.S Shinde and N.J Jamadar, where counsel on behalf of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) Sandish Patel, contended not receiving a copy of the petition; thus, the matter was adjourned with directions to serve the respondents.
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Insurmountable Condition For Bail: Stan Swamy Challenges Constitutionality Of Section 43D(5)

02/07/2021 Rani

Insurmountable Condition For Bail: Stan Swamy Challenges Constitutionality Of Section 43D(5) In Bombay High Court

03/07/2021

Live Law / by Srishti Ojha

Octogenarian Stan Swamy, a tribal rights activist, from Ranchi and accused in the 2018 Bhima Koregaon – Elgaar Parishad case, has moved the Bombay High Court challenging the Section 43-D (5) of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, which imposes strict conditions for grant of bail, for being violative of Articles 14, 19 and 21 of the Constitution.
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Fr Stan Swamy challenges constitutional validity of UAPA’s bar on grant of bail before Bombay HC

03/07/2021

The Leaflet / by The Leaflet

Father Stan Swamy, an accused in the Bhima Koregoan case, has approached the Bombay HC challenging Section 43D(5) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act [UAPA] which bars grant of bail if the accusation is prima facie true.
In his plea, Swamy has contended that this provision creates an unsurmountable hurdle for the accused to get bail and, thus, is violative of Articles 14 (right to equality) and 21 (right to life and personal liberty) of the Constitution.
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Medical Negligence: NHRC Seeks Action Taken Report from Taloja Jail on Stan Swamy

01/07/2021 Rani

Medical Negligence: NHRC Seeks Action Taken Report from Taloja Jail on Stan Swamy

01/07/2021

The Wire / by The Wire Staff

The NHRC’s move came after a Jesuit lawyer sought its intervention, saying that an Ayurveda doctor had treated the severely ailing activist at a time when he had showed several symptoms of COVID-19.
The National Human Rights Commission has asked for an ‘action taken’ report from the Taloja jail superintendent in connection with allegations that 84-year-old Jesuit priest and tribal rights activist Father Stan Swamy was denied medical facilities.
The Telegraph newspaper has reported that NHRC assistant registrar of law, Subhra Tyagi, sent the email to jail authorities on June 26.
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NHRC seeks report on Stan Swamy jail care

01/07/2021

The Telegraph / by Animesh Bisoee

The octogenarian was allegedly denied medical facilities at the Taloja Central Jail in Navi Mumbai
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has sought an action taken report from the superintendent of prisons in connection with the alleged denial of medical facilities to octogenarian Jesuit priest and tribal rights activist Father Stan Swamy at the Taloja Central Jail in Navi Mumbai.
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Also read: Amid pandemic, India’s political prisoners struggle with failing health in unequipped jails (The Caravan, June 2021)

Special court rejects pleas for cloned copies of digital hard disc recovered by investigating agency

23/06/2021 Rani

The Times of India / by Swati Deshpande

A special court in Mumbai on Wednesday rejected applications made by few of the 2018 Elgar Parishad case accused for cloned copies of digital hard disc recovered by the investigating agency.
The special National Investigation Agency Judge court said it heard arguments advanced for and against grant of such clone copies and by a common order rejected five applications.
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Also read: In Bhima-Koregaon Case, More Damning Signs of Planted Evidence (article14, April 2021)

On Sudha Bharadwaj’s bail plea, Bombay HC asks NIA, Maharashtra to respond by July 2

22/06/2021 Maya

Bombay High Court Seeks Reply On Sudha Bharadwaj’s Plea For Default Bail In Bhima Koregaon Case

22/06/2021

Live Law / by Sharmeen Hakim

The Bombay high Court on Tuesday directed the National Investigating Agency and State to file their replies in lawyer-activist Sudha Bharadwaj’s plea seeking default bail on the grounds that the Pune judge was not authorized to take cognizance of the charge sheet filed under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act against her, in 2019.
A division bench of Justices SS Shinde and NJ Jamadar passed the order on Bharadwaj’s plea under Sections 439 and 167 (2) of the Criminal Procedure Code.
Advocate Sandesh Patil for the NIA sought time to reply to the contentions following which the respondents have been asked to filed their replies by July 2 and the matter is posted for hearing on July 3.
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On activist Sudha Bharadwaj’s bail plea, Bombay HC asks NIA, Maharashtra to respond by July 2

22/06/2021

Scroll.in / by Scroll Staff

Bharadwaj argued that the judge who allowed Pune Police more time to file the chargesheet against her was not a special judge and hence cannot take cognisance.
The activist had moved the High Court for default bail on June 11. Bharadwaj sought bail on the grounds that the Pune Police did not file a chargesheet against her within 90 days, as required under Section 167(2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure. The inquiry in the case was later taken over by the National Investigation Agency.
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Sudha Bharadwaj Moves Bombay High Court Seeking Default Bail

11/06/2021

Live Law / by Sharmeen Hakim

Lawyer-Activist Sudha Bharadwaj, an accused in the Bhima Koregaon – Elgar Parishad case, has approached the Bombay High Court seeking default bail contending that the trial judge was not authorised to take cognisance of the 2019 charge sheet against her.
Her application under section 167 (2) of the Criminal Procedure Code cites RTI replies to demonstrate that the court of Additional Sessions Judge Kishor Vadane in Pune was not authorised to take cognisance of the 1,800-page supplementary charge sheet filed by the Pune Police in February 21, 2019.
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Amid pandemic, India’s political prisoners struggle with failing health in unequipped jails

22/06/2021 Maya

Prison diaries. Drawing by Arun Ferreira

Amid pandemic, India’s political prisoners struggle with failing health in unequipped jails

22/06/2021

The Caravan / by Nileena MS

As of 6 June this year, five of the 16 persons accused in the Bhima Koregaon case have spent over three years in jail without trial. These 16 individuals include lawyers, academics, a poet, a priest and activists. They are among scores of political prisoners in the country who have been arrested under the Narendra Modi government. Seven of the 16 have tested positive for COVID-19, and many of the others suffer from serious conditions, including comorbidities. Despite a rampaging second wave and increasing reports about worsening health conditions in jails, India appears intent on keeping its political prisoners behind bars.
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Vaccination drive in Maharashtra prisons going slow

22/06/2021

The Hindu / by Sonam Saigal

Only 4,409 of 33,971 inmates have received at-least the first dose.
The vaccination drive across 47 prisons in Maharashtra has been rather slow with only 4,409 inmates having received at least the first dose out of the total 33,971 inmates, that it houses.
According to the Maharashtra Prison Department, there are 28,716 under-trials and 5,255 convicts lodged across the State of which 3,338 under-trials and 1,021 convicts have been vaccinated.
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Also read: Imprisoned and Unsafe – Prisoners and the Pandemic (PUCL, Sep 2020)

Bombay HC Extends Stan Swamy’s Hospital Stay Till July 5 / NIA to HC: Swamy is an active member of CPI (M)

19/06/2021 Rani

Swamy is an active member of CPI (M), evidence shows his complicity; NIA tells Bombay HC

19/06/2021

Free Press Journal / by Narsi Benwal

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday told the Bombay High Court bench of Justices Sambhaji Shinde and Nizamoodin Jamadar that there is sufficient material to prosecute arrested Jesuit Priest Stan Swamy under the UAPA law. The agency has said Swamy is an active member of banned outfit CPI (Maoist) and it could be established with his ‘Lal Johar’ aka ‘Lal Salaam’ salutations.
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He Is Critical And Require Intensive Care: Bombay HC Extends Stan Swamy’s Hospital Stay Till July 5

17/06/2021

Live Law / by Srishti Ojha

The Bombay High Court on Thursday extended 84-year-old tribal rights activist from Ranchi Father Stan Swamy’s private hospital stay till July 5th after perusing his Medical report which stated that he continues to be critical and requires intensive care.
“As per detailed medical report, it is suffice to record that Medical Director has reported that he continues to be critical and requires intensive care. In view of aforesaid report, we deem it appropriate to extend the admission of the appellant in Holy Family Hospital Bandra in terms of orders passed by this court on May 28th 2021 till July 5th 2021. Appeal be listed on July 3rd.” the Bench noted.
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