Posts

United States: Ask President Biden and Secretary Blinken to Demand Fr. Stan’s Release

United States: Ask President Biden and Secretary Blinken to Demand Fr. Stan’s Release

Jesuits.org / by Society of Jesus

For four months, Fr. Stan Swamy, SJ has been wrongly imprisoned in India. Multiple efforts to secure his release have been denied by the courts, even though he is 83 years old and suffers from Parkinson’s disease…
Join us in urging the United States to: condemn the incarceration of Fr. Stan Swamy, ask the Indian Government to release him immediately, and ask the Indian Government to stop arbitrary arrests of innocent citizens.
Read more

Bombay HC Rejects Gautam Navlakha’s Default Bail Plea [read order]

Bombay HC Rejects Gautam Navlakha’s Default Bail Plea [read order]


by The Logical Indian (Feb 9): The Bombay High court on February 8 dismissed the bail plea of activist Gautam Navlakha who was arrested in connection with the Bhima Koregaon case +++
by The Logical Indian (Feb 9): The special court then accepted NIA’s plea seeking an extension of 90 to 180 days to file the charge sheet against Navlakha and co-accused Anand Teltumbde +++

Period under illegal detention has to be excluded in computing 90-day custody period for default bail [read order]

08/02/2021

Bar & Bench

The bone of contention was whether the period of 34 days during which Navlakha was under house arrest could be included towards calculating the 90 day period for custody prescribed under Section 167(2) of CrPC.
Read more

Bombay High Court Dismisses Bail Application Of Gautam Navlakha In Bhima Koregaon Case

08/02/2021

Live Law / by Sharmeen Hakim

A division bench of Justices SS Shinde and MS Karnik passed the order on a criminal appeal filed by Navlakha against an order of the special court, which rejected his application for default bail in June, last year. He is in prison since his surrender on April, 14 2020.
“We see no reason to interfere with the order of the trial court”, said the Court.
Read more

Bhima Koregaon Case: Bombay HC Rejects Gautam Navlakha’s Default Bail Plea

08/02/2021

The Wire / by The Wire Staff

“We see no reason to interfere with the order of the trial court,” the division bench said in response to an appeal filed by the activist.
The Bombay High Court on Monday dismissed the default bail petition of activist Gautam Navlakha in the Bhima Koregaon case.
Navlakha approached the high court last year, challenging the special NIA court’s order of July 12, 2020, that rejected his plea for statutory bail. On December 16 last year, the bench reserved its verdict on the plea seeking default bail filed by Navlakha.
Read more

Also Read: Should Gautam Navlakha’s House Arrest In 2018 Be Included For Computing Period For Default Bail? (Dec 2020)

Elgar organisers back Usmani; BJP demands action against them / 3 SC Lawyers Cleared My Speech: Usmani on FIRs

Elgar organisers back Usmani; BJP demands action against them / 3 SC Lawyers Cleared My Speech: Usmani on FIRs

Elgar organisers back Usmani; BJP demands action against them

08/02/2021

Hindustan Times / by Shalaka Shinde

Elgar organisers on Sunday issued a statement showing vehement support to Usmani (23), an activist and a student of Aligarh Muslim University in light of two cases registered against him – one in Pune and one in Lucknow.
Read more

We stand with Sharjeel, say Elgaar Parishad organisers

07/02/2021

The Indian Express / by Express News Service

“Sangh Pariwar again provoked their castiest and communal hatred by targeting Sharjeel. The incident went on to charge Sharjeel for provoking religious sentiments and sedition. We as organizers of the Elgar Parishad are standing firmly with Sharjeel Usmani,” it stated.
Read more

‘3 SC Lawyers Cleared My Speech’: Usmani on FIRs, Sedition Case

06/02/2021

The Quint / by Aishwarya S Iyer

I showed the transcript of my speech to three lawyers… three Supreme Court lawyers. All three of them said that not one word in the entire speech can be commissioned as an offence in any Indian court.”
Despite being cautious of the speech he was going to give at an Elgar Parishad event organised at Pune’s Ganesh Kala Krida Manch on January 30, 23-year-old Sharjeel Usmani has been booked for sedition, other than already being booked under charges of promoting enmity on grounds of religion, due to his ‘provocative’ statements from 30 January.
Read more

Now, Bhujbal miffed at Usmani’s ‘anti-Hindu’ remarks

05/02/2021

The Hindu / by Special Correspondent

Ambedkarite outfit backs student leader.
Maharashtra Minister and Nationalist Congress Party leader Chhagan Bhujbal on Thursday expressed anger over the alleged ‘anti-Hindu’ remarks of Aligarh Muslim University student leader Sharjeel Usmani in a speech at the second edition of the Elgaar Parishad on January 30 in Pune.
Read more

Sedition Charges filed against Sharjeel Usmani in Lucknow

04/02/2021

The Leaflet / by Rhea Binoy

Days after an FIR was filed against former Aligarh Muslim University student Sharjeel Usmani in Pune, for ‘promoting enmity between different groups’, another FIR has been filed against Usmani in Lucknow, this time with charges of sedition included.
An FIR under few charges, including sedition, has been registered against former Aligarh Muslim University student, Sharjeel Usmani in Lucknow’s Hazratganj police station, in connection to his speech at the Elgar Parishad in Pune.
Read more

What is Elgar Parishad 2021?

04/02/2021

Jagranjosh / by Arfa Javaid

On 30 January 2021, Elgar Parishad event was organised by ‘Bhima Koregaon Shourya Din Prerna Abhiyan’ at Ganesh Krida Kala Manch in Pune’s Swargate area. Two FIRs have been lodged against former AMU student Sharjeel Usmani over his objectionable comments at the Elgar Parishad conclave…
Reacting over the FIR, Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh stated that Sharjeel Usmani will be arrested from wherever he is.
Read more

We Pointed Out When Sharjeel Usmani Used Word ‘Hindu’ Instead Of ‘Manuwadi’: Organiser Of Elgar Parishad

04/02/2021

BW Busindessworld / by ANI

We pointed out when Sharjeel Usmani used word ‘Hindu’ instead of ‘Manuwadi’: Organiser of Elgar Parishad.
Pune (Maharashtra) [India], February 4 (ANI): After a case was registered against a former Aligarh Muslim University student in Maharashtra for allegedly delivering a controversial speech at a conclave in Pune, one of the organisers of the event, Retd Justice Kolse Patil said that they pointed it out on stage when the Sharjeel Usmani had used the word ‘Hindu’ instead of ‘Manuwadi’.
Read more

FIR against Muslim student leader Sharjeel Usmani over Elgar Parishad speech

04/02/2021

The Siasat Daily / by Sreshta Ladegaam

Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh said that Usmani will be arrested from wherever he is.
Student activist and alumnus of Aligarh Muslim University, Sharjeel Usmani has been booked for his speech at the Elgar Parishad 2021 held in Pune on January 30. The Pune Police registered an FIR against Usmani under Section 153 (A) of the Indian Penal Code at Swargate Police Station on Tuesday.
Read more

Sharjeel Usmani booked by Pune Police over ‘provocative speech’ at Elgaar Parishad 2

03/02/2021

The Indian Express / by Express News Service

Usmani has been booked on charges of ‘promoting enmity between different groups’ following a complaint filed by a leader of the BJP’s youth wing.
Pune City police late on Tuesday registered an offence against Sharjeel Usmani, a student leader of the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), for the alleged provocative speech delivered by him at ‘Elgaar Parishad 2021’, which was held in the city on January 30.
Read more

Process Has Become Punishment In Case Of Varavara Rao: Anand Grover (video)

Process Has Become Punishment In Case Of Varavara Rao: Anand Grover (video)


en | 15:50min | 2021

The Logiacl Indian / by Navya Singh

81-year-old poet, activist Varavara Rao has spent 149 out of 365 days in the hospital. The activist’s lawyers and family have urged that he should be granted bail on medical grounds as his health condition continues to deteriorate.
The Logical Indian’s Navya Singh spoke to Senior Lawyer Anand Grover who represents Varavara Rao in the case to get more details.
Watch video

NIA arrested 16, chargesheeted 21 in Bhima Koregaon case: MHA

NIA arrested 16, chargesheeted 21 in Bhima Koregaon case: MHA

Oneindia News / by Shreya

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has so far arrested 16 accused in the Bhima Koregaon case and filed charge sheet against 21 accused, the Lok Sabha was informed on Tuesday.
Union Minister of State for Home G Kishan Reddy also said that the central government has taken note of the press release issued by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on October 20 last year on the restrictions on human right NGOs and arrests of activists in India, and has responded to it appropriately.
Read more

HC Reserves Order On Varavara Rao’s Bail On Medical Grounds

HC Reserves Order On Varavara Rao’s Bail On Medical Grounds

‘His Crime Is A Crime Of Conscience´: Jaising Argues As Bombay HC Reserves Order On Varavara Rao’s Bail On Medical Grounds

01/02/2021

Live Law / by Sharmeen Hakim

The Bombay High Court on Monday reserved its order on the medical bail pleas of 81-year-old ailing Telugu poet – Dr Varavara Rao – an accused in the Elgar Parishad- Bhima Koregaon case.
His lawyers have sought for the octogenarian to be granted bail and sent back to his home, in Hyderabad, for at least three months, owing to his advanced age and neurological condition. The National Investigating agency and the State have vehemently argued against setting him at liberty due to the serious allegations against him.
Read more

Bombay High Court reserves bail plea order of Varavara Rao

01/02/2021

The New Indian Express / by Sudhir Suryawanshi

Senior Advocate Indira Jaising appearing on behalf of Hemlatha said that Rao has spent 149 days of the 365 days in a year, in a hospital ward.
The Bombay High Court on Monday reserved its order on the medical bail pleas of 81-year-old ailing Telugu poet and activist Varavara Rao, who is an accused in the Elgar Parishad-Bhima Koregaon case.
Read more

NIA Opposes Stan Swamy’s Bail; Calls PUCL, VVJVA ‘Maoist Fronts’

NIA Opposes Stan Swamy’s Bail; Calls PUCL, VVJVA ‘Maoist Fronts’

NIA Opposes Stan Swamy’s Bail; Calls PUCL, Visthapan Virodhi Jan Vikas Andolan ‘Maoist Fronts’

31/01/2021

The Wire / by The Wire Staff

The agency made the claim about the 30-year-old human rights body while arguing against the bail application moved by Father Stan Swamy.
In its latest, the National Investigation Agency handling the ongoing probe in the Elgar Parishad case has called a 30-year-old human rights body, People’s Union for Civil Liberties, a frontal organisation of the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist). The agency made the claim while arguing against the bail application moved by arrested human rights defender Father Stan Swamy. Similar claims were also made against Jharkhand-based Adivasi rights organisation Visthapan Virodhi Jan Vikas Andolan.
Read more

NIA says Stan Swamy is working to achieve the goals of CPI (Maoist)

30/01/2021

The Hindu / by Special Corrospondent

Central agency argues for rejection of bail petition.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Saturday alleged that Father Stan Swamy, accused in the Bhima Koregaon violence case, was actually accomplishing the agenda of Communist Party of India (Maoist) under the pretence of voicing concerns of the tribal community. It said that his bail plea must be rejected.
Read more

At Elgar Parishad 2021, calls for freedom for the ‘Bhima Koregaon 16’

At Elgar Parishad 2021, calls for freedom for the ‘Bhima Koregaon 16’


Kabir Kala Manch performance

At Elgar Parishad 2021, calls for freedom for the ‘Bhima Koregaon 16’

31/01/2021

Scroll.in / by Aarefa Johari

On Saturday morning, people entering Pune’s Ganesh Kala Krida auditorium were greeted by dozens of police officials at every gate, multiple security checkpoints with metal detectors, repeated bag-checks and body pat-downs, and police sniffer dogs roaming around the compound.
Read more

Arundhati Roy calls for resistance against RSS

31/01/2021

The Indian Express / by Chandan Haygunde

Roy read out her speech in Hindi titled “Ek Ladai Mohabbat Ki”. She alleged that the RSS is leading the “Bramhanwadi (castiest)” forces and has taken control of the country through Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Author Arundhati Roy on Saturday called for a united fight against “Bramhanical” and “capitalist” forces in the country and that the struggle should be named as “Satya Shodhak Resistance (SSR)” against the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
Read more

Our battle for love must be militantly waged – and beautifully won / Video: Free BK16

Our battle for love must be militantly waged – and beautifully won / Video: Free BK16

Arundhati Roy: Our battle for love must be militantly waged – and beautifully won

30/01/2020

Scroll.in / by Arundhati Roy

The text of Arundhati Roy’s speech at the Elgar Parishad 2021 on January 30.
I thank the organisers of the 2021 Elgar Parishad for inviting me to speak at this forum to mark what would have been Rohit Vemula’s 32nd birthday and the 1818 victory of the battle of Bhima Koregaon. Not far from here, Mahar troops fighting in the British Army defeated the Peshwa King Bajirao II under whom Mahars and other Dalit castes were cruelly persecuted and ritually debased in indescribable ways.
Read more

Video: Free BK16 – Repeal UAPA

30/01/2020


hindi | 3:09min | 2021

By National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM)

NAPM strongly condemns the imprisonment of senior social and human rights activists on false and baseless allegations in the name of ‘Bhima Koregaon Conspiracy Case’.
Watch video