The situation has got precarious with COVID infection spreading in their barrack in Mumbai’s Byculla Jail. The Stan Swamy case should not be allowed to be repeated.
Bhima Koregaon accused activists Shoma Sen and Sudha Bharadwaj who are languishing in the Byculla Jail of Mumbai after being accused of conspiracy against the state by the National Investigating Agency(NIA), are facing a serious danger to their lives. At least 20 persons have reportedly tested positive for COVID-19 at Byculla women’s jail, according to Koel Sen, daughter of activist Shoma Sen. Read more
Inmate found COVID-19 positive in barrack holding Sudha Bharadwaj, Shoma Sen
20 women, 5 children test Covid positive in Byculla women jail, 10 in male ward
25/09/2021
The Indian Express / by Express News Service
A prison official said that those who tested positive have been shifted to a nearby school. One of the prisoners, who is a senior citizen, has been shifted to a civic hospital. There are over 450 prisoners in Byculla prison. Read more
Inmate found COVID-19 positive in barrack holding Sudha Bharadwaj, Shoma Sen
23/09/2021
The Hindu / by Sonam Saigal
Both of them have tested negative on the RTPCR test, says DIG.
A senior citizen inmate, lodged in the same barrack as Sudha Bharadwaj and Shoma Sen at the Byculla jail, was found COVID-19 positive on Thursday.
Confirming it with The Hindu, DIG Yogesh Desai said, “One senior citizen who was given one dose of vaccination has tested positive and has been shifted to a temporary COVID Center next to the jail.”
He said Ms. Sen and Ms. Bharadwaj have tested negative on the RTPCR test. Read more
Days after special NIA court rejects Shoma Sen’s medical bail plea, daughter alleges two co-prisoners tested Covid-positive
23/09/2021
The Leaflet / by The Leaflet
More than 20 COVID cases reported in Byculla women’s jail.
At least 20 persons have allegedly tested positive for COVID-19 at Mumbai’s Byculla women’s jail, according to Koel Sen, daughter of activist Shoma Sen who is presently lodged in the jail. Earlier on Thursday, September 23, 2021, Koel reportedly spoke with her mother Shoma over an official call supervised by the jail superintendent, where she was informed of the same. Read more
Nearly all Bhima Koregaon accused have been denied medical bail despite serious ailments. Here’s what the law says.
On 24 September, the Bombay High Court will consider whether to extend the bail granted by it to poet and activist Varavara Rao on medical grounds, back in February.
81-year-old Rao had been granted medical bail for six months by the court in view of various medical problems that had kept requiring hospitalisation and repeated deteriorations in his condition every time he was sent back to jail. Read more
NIA court reject medical bail pleas of four accused / Court reject application seeking copy of draft charges
NIA Court refuses medical bail to four Bhima Koregaon accused; citing past precedent, two other accused activists seek laptops in jail
22/09/2021
The Leaflet / by Sabah Gurmat
Shoma Sen, Vernon Gonsalves, Gautam Navlakha and Anand Teltumbde had applied for bail.
On Tuesday, 21 September 2021, a special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in Mumbai rejected the bail applications filed on behalf of four of the senior citizens accused in the Bhima Koregaon case…
Notably, three of the Bhima Koregaon accused – Gonsalves, Arun Ferreira and Surendra Gadling – were also produced in-person at the special NIA court in Mumbai. The three argued before court by themselves. Read more
NIA Court rejects medical bail to Shoma Sen
22/09/2021
Sabrang / by Sabrang
She was arrested in June 2018, and has been in jail since then, with no relief.
… Further, as per media reports, the court has also rejected the applications filed by co-accused Sudha Bharadwaj, Hany Babu and Gautam Navlakha for a copy of the draft charges filed by National Investigation Agency (NIA) that has reportedly submitted a list of seventeen draft (proposed) charges against the 15 accused, including the serious charge of waging a war against the country, which is punishable with death or imprisonment for life (section 121 of the Indian Penal Code)… Read more
Shoma Sen
Rona Wilson
Gautam Navlakha
Hany Babu
Sudha Bharadwaj
Special NIA Court Rejects Professor Shoma Sen’s Interim Medical Bail Plea In Bhima Koregaon – Elgar Parishad Case
22/09/2021
Live Law / by Sharmeen Hakim
A special NIA court on Tuesday refused interim medical bail to Shoma Sen, a former professor at Nagpur University, who was arrested in the Bhima Koregaon – Elgaar Parishad caste violence case in 2018…
Meanwhile, the court has extended co-accused researcher Rona Wilson’s interim bail by three days…
Lastly, the court rejected an application filed by accused Gautam Navlakha, Hany Babu and Sudha Bharadwaj seeking a copy of draft charges submitted by NIA. Read more
Shoma Sen
Anand Teltmumbde
Gautam Navlakha
Vernon Gonsalves
NIA court reject medical bail pleas of four Bhima-Koregaon case accused
21/09/2021
The Hindu / by Sonam Saigal
The special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court on Tuesday rejected the medical bail applications filed by senior citizens Shoma Sen, Anand Teltumbde, Gautam Navlakha and Vernon Gonsalves.
Special Judge D.E. Kothalikar rejected the pleas by relying on recommendations from the high-powered committee set up to decongest prisons owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more
Video: BK16 and the Incarceration of Justice / Film spotlights ‘price’ paid by Bhima Koregaon 16
Tune in to find out who are #bk16 and why the state has left no stone unturned to charge them under the draconian #UAPA laws. Watch video (08:00-22:01)
Film spotlights ‘price’ paid by Bhima Koregaon 16
18/09/2021
The Telegraph / by Pheroze L. Vincent
Produced by the Delhi-based NGO Karwan-e-Mohabbat, the 13-minute film edited and narrated by Anam Sheikh starts with the funeral service of the 84-year-old Father Stan.
At the beginning, Father Stan Swamy appears on screen to say that what is happening to him is not happening to him alone. The film ends with the Jesuit declaring he is “ready to pay the price, whatever it may be”. Read more
Indian authorities are using tax evasion charges to silence critics, says Human Rights Watch
Indian authorities are using tax evasion charges to silence critics, says Human Rights Watch
17/09/2021
Scroll.in / by Scroll Staff
The human rights group expressed concern about a number of cases, including raids on the premises of actor Sonu Sood and activist Harsh Mander.
… In January, the Human Rights Watch had released its “World Report 2021”, in which it took note of the security clampdown in Jammu and Kashmir, violence in Delhi in February, cases against activists in the Bhima Koregaon violence and crackdown on foreign funds of non-governmental organisations. Read more
Can Modi government solve India’s many problems by raiding activists and journalists?
17/09/2021
Scroll.in / by Rohan Venkataramakrishnan
From Harsh Mander to Rana Ayyub to Newslaundry, recent moves have only reinforced the impression that the state wants to intimidate anyone asking questions.
In the middle of 2020, as the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic was raging all around India, a Group of Ministers from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration met six times to figure out how to “neutralise the people who are writing against the government”. Read more
Koregaon Bhima inquiry commission to resume hearings in Pune from September 27
The two-member commission, headed by retired high court judge Justice J N Patel, is probing into the cause of Koregaon Bhima violence of January 1, 2018, in which one person was killed and several injured.
Koregaon Bhima Commission of Inquiry has released its schedule of hearing witnesses in Pune from September 27 to October 1. The Commission had postponed its hearings in Mumbai between August 23 and August 25 due to the unavailability of a bigger place given the Covid-19 situation. Read more
Human chain formed in Tamil Nadu seeking release of prisoners in Bhima Koregaon case (pictures)
Human chain formed in Tamil Nadu seeking release of prisoners in Bhima Koregaon case
15/09/2021
The Hindu / by Staff Reporter
‘It is a protest against stifling of all voices for democratic rights’
The arrest of thinkers, social activits and writers in connection with the Bhima Koregaon case is not just a blantant violation of human rights, but a threat to intellectuals who speak against Hindutva forces, said Madurai MP Su. Venkatesan on Wednesday. Read more
Activists Form Human Chains to Demand Release of Bhima-Koregaon Detainees
15/09/2021
Newsclick / by Neelambaran A
Left, youth, Dalit and human rights organisations in Tamil Nadu slam the BJP government for muzzling dissent.
More than 25 Left, youth, Dalit and human rights organisations in Tamil Nadu formed human chains on the International Day of Democracy on Wednesday to protest the illegal detention of intellectuals and activists, including in the Bhima-Koregaon case, under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967. Read more
Not replying to plea against probe transfer in Bhima Koregaon case: Maharashtra
15/09/2021
The Hindu / by Special Correspondent
Petition challenged transfer of investigation to NIA after chargesheet was submitted.
In an unusual move, the Maharashtra government told the Bombay High Court on Tuesday that it does not want to reply to a plea filed by two accused in the Bhima Koregaon caste violence case challenging the transfer of the probe from Pune Police to the National Investigation Agency (NIA). Read more
Bombay HC adjourns plea challenging probe being transferred to NIA to September 27
14/09/2021
The Times of India / by Swati Deshpande
The state government on Tuesday informed the Bombay high court that it does not wish to file any affidavit in reply to a petition by two Elgar Parishad accused who have challenged the transfer of probe from state police to the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
The HC bench of Justices S S Shinde and N J Jamadar recorded the statement by the public prosecutor made on instructions from the state and posted the petition for the final hearing on September 27. Read more
Petition filed in Bombay High Court challenging transfer of case investigation to NIA
19/06/2020
The Leaflet / by Ujjaini Chatterji
A Writ Petition has been filed before the High Court of Maharashtra at Bombay, challenging the transfer of the investigation for Bhima Koregaon and Elgar Parishad cases, to the National Investigation Agency (NIA). The Petitioners in the writ are Advocate Surendra Gadling, prominent lawyer who is famous for his court craft and immense knowledge of criminal law, and Sudhir Dhawale, a freelance journalist and anti-caste activist. Read more
UN rights chief condemns ongoing restrictions on freedom of assembly
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, on Monday condemned India’s restrictions placed on public assembly in Jammu and Kashmir, pursuant to the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act of 1967 (UAPA)…
This condemnation comes after many in India have continuously criticised the allegedly arbitrary and abusive law that punishes dissenters who are vocal against government actions. As many as 5,128 cases have been registered in India under the UAPA since 2015.
The law was also severely scrutinised in July after the demise of Father Stan Swamy, a tribal rights activist who was arrested under the UAPA for his alleged involvement in the Bhima Koregaon violence in 2018 and his links to Maoists. Read more
