They are often denied items of food and clothing that other inmates are allowed to access.
Over the past few weeks, prison authorities in Maharashtra have denied basic amenities such as mosquito nets and telephone facilities to undertrials in the 2018 Bhima Koregaon case, which pertains to caste violence as well as an alleged attempt to assassinate the prime minister. Nearly five years later, even as independent reports have pointed to the fact that the electronic devices of the accused were hacked using military-grade spyware available only to governments, the trial in the case is yet to begin. Read more
“On your 5th birthday in incarceration, Shoma…we will fight for justice,” says a post by Tusharkanti Bhattacharya, for his wife who is one of the 16 accused in Bhima Koregaon case. With the message he also posted her picture that was published in a Bengali journal Azaadi which carried an article on various political prisoners.
On Monday, Shoma Sen, a Nagpur University professor when arrested five years ago, turned 64. Read more
To what extent can impunity and oppression be quantified? An answer can be found in the chambers of the Lok Sabha, where the Union government on Tuesday shared data on the rise of custodial deaths in India. At least 4,484 people died in police custody over the last two years, with the state of Uttar Pradesh recording the highest share of custodial deaths. Overall, India’s documented custodial violence has steadily increased, with there being at least 2,544 cases in the last year itself. Read more
NIA argues against Gautam Navlakha’s bail application, State denies him telephonic facility
23/07/2022
The Leaflet / by Sarah Thanawala
On July 22, Special Public Prosecutor for National Investigation Agency (‘NIA’), Prakash Shetty, argued against the bail application of journalist and human rights activist Gautam Navlakha, an accused in the Bhima Koregaon-Elgar Parishad case, charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. The application was being heard before the NIA’s special court in Mumbai, by special judge Dinesh E. Kothalikar. Read more
State denies phone call facility to jailed activist Gautam Navlakha
21/07/2022
Hindustan Times / by HT Correspondent
The state prison authorities on Wednesday told the Bombay High Court (HC) that Elgar Parishad accused Gautam Navlakha, booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), cannot be permitted telephone calls from prison as per the existing rules
The state prison authorities on Wednesday told the Bombay High Court (HC) that Elgar Parishad accused Gautam Navlakha, booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), cannot be permitted telephone calls from prison as per the existing rules. Read more
Can’t let Gautam Navlakha make calls from jail, Maharashtra government tells HC
20/07/2022
Scroll.in / by Scroll Staff
The state government’s lawyer told the court that the activist could not be given the facility as he was facing charges of terrorism.
The Maharashtra government on Wednesday opposed activist Gautam Navlakha’s request to make phone calls from prison, PTI reported. Read more
The authorities of Maharashtra government to purchase more books for library as ordered by the Bombay High Court during a hearing of a bail plea filed by activist Anand Teltumbe.
Teltumbde, an accused in the Elgar Parishad Maoist links case, is currently lodged in Taloja jail.
The prison authorities had refused a book by British author P G Wodehouse to Teltumbde in April this year, and was then directed by the high court to spruce up the library of the prison. Read more
Chidambaram: ‘Process is the Punishment’ / A former SC judge on the decay in the criminal justice system
P Chidambaram writes: Why are the accused denied bail? Pre-charge evidence, framing of charges, trial and arguments will — not may, it is will — take many years. Should the accused be in jail until the trial is over? Is pre-trial incarceration a substitute for trial, proof, conviction and punishment?
… In current times, there is no story more shocking than the story of the 16 accused in what is known as the Bhima Koregaon case. Read more
Liberty is too precious to be lost: A former SC judge on the decay in the criminal justice system
22/07/2022
Scroll.in / by Madan B Lokur
A starting point can be making some trial judges realise that they need to stop acting as a rubber stamp of the police in matters of arrest.
“What’s going on?” a young lady asks quizzically in a television advertisement. The same question must be asked of criminal justice and India’s prisons.
Bail, not jail has been reduced to a mere slogan to be whispered once in a while. The reality is jail, not bail. Another reality is that innocent until proven guilty has been transformed to guilty until proven innocent. Read more
Academician Anand Teltumbde has moved the special NIA court seeking that a showcause notice be issued to Taloja jail authorities for not providing him with a cot despite the court’s orders.
Teltumbde’s plea also said after the court’s order earlier this month, he was shifted to the hospital ward from the anda cell. It said it seemed like the jail authorities were using the hospital ward as prisoner holding cell to avoid complying with the court’s orders. Read more
Sipper and straw, to mosquito nets and phone calls: Elgar accused in court for relief
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. Read more
Different Courts Different Orders On Use Of Nets In “Mosquito Prone” Taloja Prison / Navlakha and Gorkhe denied net
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. Read more
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. Read more
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. Read more
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. Read more
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. Read more
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 +++
