The civil rights coalition, Campaign Against State Repression (CASR), even as condemning the “intensifying harassment” of activist, writer, lawyer and intellectual Ajay Kumar and is family by India’s investigative agencies, has said that “the arrest of Ajay Kumar under fabricated charges is imminent”, and may happen in the “similar vein” to that of his former associates like Prof GN Saibaba, activist Rona Wilson, late Father Stan Swamy, trade unionist Sudha Bharadwaj, others. Read more/full statement
The first week in the new year repeats the same old story of procedural grind
06/01/2024
The Leaflet / by Sarah Thanawala
The stay on Gautam Navlakha’s bail Order has been extended by the Supreme Court. Ten of the 16 accused in the Bhima Koregaon case continue to be incarcerated.
This week, the Supreme Court granted an extension to the stay on the bail granted by the Bombay High Court to journalist and human rights activist Gautam Navlakha. Read more
Supreme Court Extends Bombay HC’s Stay On Bail Granted To Gautam Navlakha In Bhima Koregaon Case
05/01/2024
Live Law / by Debby Jain
In the National Investigation Agency’s petition challenging the grant of bail to journalist Gautam P Navlakha in the Bhima Koregaon case over alleged Maoist links, the Supreme Court today extended the stay granted by the Bombay High Court on the order granting bail.
A Division Bench of Justices MM and SVN Bhatti ordered for the matter to be listed before the Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, to take a call on listing of the same with other connected petitions filed by co-accused, or for clubbing of all the matters to enable hearing by a single Bench. Read more
SC extends stay imposed by Bombay HC on order granting bail to Gautam Navlakha
05/01/2024
The Telegraph / by pti
Navlakha, who was arrested in August 2018, was in November 2023 permitted by the Supreme Court to be placed under house arrest
The Supreme Court on Friday extended the stay imposed by the Bombay High Court on the operation of its order granting bail to activist Gautam Navlakha in the Elgar Parishad-Maoist links case. Read more
Supreme Court Issues Notice To NIA On Professor Hany Babu’s Bail Plea
03/01/2024
Live Law / by Awstika Das
The Supreme Court on Wednesday (January 3) issued notice in the bail plea of Delhi University professor Hany Babu, who was arrested by the National IInvestigating Agency (NIA) in the Bhima Koregaon-Elgar Parishad case.
A bench of Justices Aniruddha Bose and Sanjay Karol was hearing Babu’s special leave petition challenging a September 2022 decision of the Bombay High Court to reject his bail application in this case. Read more
Supreme Court seeks NIA response to bail plea by Professor Hany Babu
03/01/2024
Bar & Bench / by Abhimanyu Hazarika
Babu was arrested in July 2020 on charges of being a member of the Communist Party of India (Maoist) and being involved in conspiracy to attack Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday sought the response of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to a bail plea filed by professor Hany Babu in the 2018 Bhima Koregaon violence case [Hany Babu vs National Investigation Agency and anr]. Read more
Surendra Gadling returns to Taloja jail.
We
The stuggle for freedom will prevail. But look at that smile , that victory sign , that good cheer after over 5 years in Taloja jail.
Stifling of right to protest, freedom: Open letter to CJI Chandrachud
03/01/2024
SabrangIndia / by SabrangIndia
The open letter has alleged that peaceful protests were met with fake encounters, abductions and demolition of houses belonging to the protesters by police and other government instrumentalities
… Text of the Open Letter:
To D.Y. Chandrachud,
The Chief Justice of India,
Supreme Court of India
2nd January 2024
Dear Justice Chandrachud,
We write this letter to you as a members of democratic-minded civil society and activists who are working on issues concerning democratic ethos of the people and the protection of their civic, democratic, and constitutional rights. Read more / full letter
Open letter from civil rights activists to CJI Chandrachud on freedom curbs
03/01/2024
The Telegraph online / by R. Balaji
The letter alleged that peaceful protests were met with fake encounters, abductions and demolition of houses belonging to the protesters by police and other government instrumentalities
A group of civil rights activists and organisations on Tuesday wrote an “open letter” to Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud on the alleged suppression of free speech, peaceful protests and rallies by police, leading to the stifling of democratic dissent in the country. Read more
Open Letter to CJI Chandrachud highlights Concerns Over Erosion of Democratic Rights
03/01/2024
The Mooknayak / by The Mooknayak English
The letter questions India’s commitment to being the world’s largest democracy and refers to the words of jurist John Rawls, stressing the importance of justice and the need to reform or abolish unjust laws and institutions. The plea is for the judiciary to uphold equal liberties and protect rights secured by justice, emphasizing that such rights should not be subject to political bargaining or social interests. Read more
Bhima Koregaon: The process continues to clot as punishment as another year passes by
Many of the accused in the Bhima Koregaon–Elgar Parishad case have now spent one more year incarcerated without a trial. A far cry from the verbiage of high judicial officials that even a day’s denial of liberty is too much.
… Here is a recap of the major developments in the case this year, of bail applications granted, stayed and pending; the consistent pleas for the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to comply with the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), 1973; and the courts heeding to medical conditions-related pleas of the accused. Read more
Koregaon Bhima Battle Anniversary: Images of Indian Constitution, Ambedkar adorn Jaystambh
Commemorative events like the Bhima-Koregaon battle anniversary open a pathway for alternative cultural expressions. Such sites become spaces for new political aspirations.
On January 1, hundreds of thousands of people gathered at the Bhima-Koregaon monument to mark the 206th anniversary of the battle of Bhima-Koregaon. For about a decade and a half now, the memorial at Bhima-Koregaon near Pune in Maharashtra has become a noteworthy site of public attention, underlining the significance of an alternative reading of social and political histories. Read more
Pune: Blue flags flutter across Nagar Road
02/01/2024
PuneMirror Bureau / by Chaitraly Deshmukh
Bhim Sainiks converge at Vijay Stambh to pay obeisance on 206th anniversary of the Battle of Koregaon Bhima
Amidst elaborate security arrangements, thousands of Bhim Sainiks assembled to pay homage at the historic Vijay Stambh (victory pillar) on Monday, marking the 206th anniversary of the Battle of Koregaon Bhima. Read more
Koregaon Bhima Battle Anniversary: Images of Indian Constitution, Ambedkar adorn Jaystambh
01/01/2024
The Indian Express / by Chandan Haygunde
This year, the state government has decorated the ‘Jaystambh’ with images of the Constitution of India with the caption “Bhartiya Samvidhanache Amrut Mahotsavi Varsh” (platinum jubilee year of the Indian Constitution).
Preparations were in full swing for the programme to be held at the ‘Jaystambh’ at Perne village in Pune district on Monday to mark the 206th anniversary of the Battle of Koregaon Bhima. Read more
Security stepped up for Koregaon Bhima battle anniversary at Perne
31/12/2023
Hindustan Times / by Nadeem Inamdar
Heavy security force has been deployed in and around Koregaon Bhima victory pillar Jaystambh at Perne village as the district administration expects around 20 lakh visitors to the historic memorial on January 1, 2024, for the anniversary of the battle of Koregaon Bhima. Read more
Koregaon Bhima battle anniversary: Security tightened at Jaystambh for Jan 1 event
30/12/2023
The Indian Express / by Express News Service
As a precaution, police have issued notices to a number of people including activists of different groups, local villagers and others, who were booked in different cases regarding the Koregaon Bhima violence, asking them to stay out of the region on the day of the event.
Heavy security is being deployed at the Jaystambh, which is expecting more visitors than 2023, for the January 1 programme in 2024, to mark the anniversary of the battle of Koregaon Bhima. Read more
Police monitor social media posts ahead of battle of Koregaon Bhima anniversary
26/12/2023
Hindustan Times / by Nadeem Inamdar
State home department instructs police authorities to monitor social media posts related to Koregaon Bhima anniversary events to ensure law and order
The Pune city and its rural counterpart under the directions from the district collectorate have begun security arrangements, surveillance and other safety measures ahead of the 206th anniversary of the battle of Koregaon Bhima at the village. Read more
Security measures intensified as Koregaon Bhima battle anniversary approaches
26/12/2023
Pune Mirror / by Prakhar Yadav
The state home department, in an effort to maintain law and order, has directed the police to closely monitor social media posts related to the upcoming festivities and events
As the 206th anniversary of the Battle of Koregaon Bhima approaches, the district collectorate has instructed both Pune city and its rural counterpart to initiate comprehensive security plans, surveillance, and other safety measures. The state home department, in an effort to maintain law and order, has directed the police to closely monitor social media posts related to the upcoming festivities and events. Read more
‘NewsClick’ case: Gautam Navlakha questioned by Delhi Police
31/12/2023
Scroll.in / by Scroll Staff
The activist and is a shareholder of PPK NewsClick Studio Private Limited since 2018, according to the first information report in the case.
Activist Gautam Navlakha was on Saturday questioned by the Delhi Police in connection with a case against news website NewsClick filed under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, reported PTI. Read more
Delhi police special cell questions Gautam Navlakha in NewsClick case
31/12/2023
Hindustan Times / by G Mohiuddin Jeddy
A team of the Delhi police special cell arrived in Mumbai on Saturday to question activist Gautam Navlakha in connection with the Newsclick foreign funding case. Navlakha is currently under house arrest in Navi Mumbai in the Elgar Parishad-Bhima Koregaon violence case. Read more
Activist Gautam Navlakha to be questioned over foreign funding, links with ISI
24/12/2023
India Today / by Arvind Ojha
The special cell of Delhi police will question activist Gautam Navlakha about his alleged involvement with Chinese funding and a nexus with Syed Ghulam Nabi Fai, who was arrested by the FBI in the US.
The Delhi Police special cell will interrogate activist and journalist Gautam Navlakha at his residence in Mumbai next week, as part of the ongoing investigation into allegations of foreign funding and connections with Pakistan’s spy agency ISI. Read more
Delhi Police seek 3-month extension for NewsClick probe, to question Gautam Navlakha Wednesday
19/12/2023
The Print / by Bismee Taskin
Also accused in Bhima Koregaon case, activist Gautam Navlakha will be questioned in connection with ‘illegal funds’ which Delhi police claim were routed to NewsClick, it is learnt.
The Delhi police have sought a three-month extension before a court here to complete its investigation in the NewsClick case, ThePrint has learnt. Read more
Delhi Police gets permission to question rights activist Gautam Navlakha in Newsclick case
16/12/2023
The Indian Express / by Express News Service
The police want to question Navlakha, a shareholder of PPK Newsclick Studio Pvt Ltd, about illegal funds’ they accuse him to have received in the past five years
Delhi Police’s Special Cell has got a court’s permission to question human rights activist Gautam Navlakha, an accused in the UAPA case registered against him and staffers of the NewsClick website, at his home in Navi Mumbai, where he has been under house arrest in the Bhima Koregaon case. Read more
Immediately withdraw pending pathalgadi cases, including on late Stan Swamy: JJM
02/01/2024
Countercurrents / by Representative
According to a recent RTI reply by the Superintendent of Police of Khunti, five pathalgadi cases of Khunti are yet to be withdrawn. It also includes the case registered against 20 activists and intellectuals, including Stan Swamy. Also, according to the RTI reply, another pathalgadi related case was registered in Khunti in March 2020 under the current Hemant Soren government. Of the total 21 cases registered by the Raghubar Das government in Khunti, 16 have been withdrawn. Read more
4 Years After Announcement, Govt Yet to Withdraw Cases Pending Against Pathalgadi Movement
30/12/2023
The Wire / by The Wire Staff
The pending cases name Stan Swamy along with 20 other activists and intellectuals associated with the movement. On 29 December 2019, Hemant Soren soon after taking the oath as chief minister had announced the withdrawal of all Pathalgadi cases.
Five cases registered in connection with the Pathalgadi movement in Jharkhand’s Kunti district are still pending to be withdrawn. Four years ago, in December 2019, when Jharkhand’s current chief minister Hemant Soren took over, he vowed to withdraw all cases in connection with the movement, filed under his predecessor Raghubar Das’s government. Read more
Granting bail to writer and activist, Gautam Navlakha in the Elgar Parishad-Maoist links case (Bhima Koregaon case), the Bombay High Court, found insufficient evidence to prima facie indicate Navlakha’s involvement in conspiring or executing terrorist acts
… The court’s assessment in the Gautam Navlakha bail hearing highlighted the lack of substantial material linking Navlakha to terrorist activities. It emphasized that his alleged membership with CPI (Maoist) could, at most, implicate him under sections 13 and 38 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, carrying a maximum punishment of ten years. Read more
