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Bombay HC rejects Varavara Rao’s permanent bail plea; extends temporary bail

Bombay HC rejects Varavara Rao’s permanent bail plea; extends temporary bail

Bombay HC dismisses Varavara Rao’s plea seeking permanent bail, extends medical bail

13/04/2022

The Indian Express / by Express Web Desk

The court found said it some substance in contentions raised by the petitioner over conditions at Taloja central prison and said that it noted some deficiencies and passed directions in that regard.
The Bombay High Court Wednesday dismissed pleas filed by Elgaar Parishad accused Varavara Rao, who had sought permanent medical bail and permission to shift to Hyderabad in Telangana citing ill health and high expenses in Mumbai. However, the court extended the interim bail granted to Rao by three months to undergo cataract surgery.
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Bombay High Court Extends Temporary Bail Of Varavara Rao By 3 Months On Medical Grounds; Refuses Permanent Bail

13/04/2022

Live Law / by Sharmeen Hakim

The Bombay High Court on Wednesday refused to grant permanent medical bail to Telugu poet and Bhima Koregaon – Elgar Parishad accused P Varavara Rao. It however extended the period of temporary bail by three months for his cataract operation and issued directions to expedite the trial. The Court has also refused him permission to reside at his home in Telangana.
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Bombay HC rejects plea by Varavara Rao for permanent bail; extends temporary bail for 3 months

13/04/2022

Bar & Bench / by Neha Joshi

A bench of SB Shukre and GA Sanap also rejected the application by Rao to stay in Telangana during the duration of bail.
“The present petition seeking permanent bail is dismissed. Plea seeking modification of bail to go to Telangana is dismissed,” the Court said.
The Court, however, extended for three more months an earlier order granting him temporary bail.
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Hany Babu approached Bombay High Court seeking regular bail

Hany Babu approached Bombay High Court seeking regular bail


by Bar & Bench (April 13):
Bhima Koregaon accused Hany Babu has approached #BombayHighCourt seeking regular bail after it was rejected by the Mumbai #NIA Court.

No bail; ‘prima facie evidence Hany Babu part of Maoist outfit’: NIA Court

22/02/2022

The Indian Express / by Express News Service

“The same can be said to be sufficient to prima facie establish that the applicant was instrumental for the release of convict G N Saibaba, who was convicted for the activities of the CPI (M),” special Judge Dinesh E Kothalikar said in the detailed order made available on Monday.
IN ITS detailed order rejecting bail to Delhi University associate professor Hany Babu, a special court has said that there is prima facie evidence that he was ‘actively involved’ in activities of banned organisation, CPI (Maoist).
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US Departments 2021 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: India

US Departments 2021 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: India

US Department’s 2021 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: India

13/04/2022

US Department of State / by Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor

… Significant human rights issues included credible reports of: unlawful and arbitrary killings, including extrajudicial killings by the government or its agents; torture and cases of cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment by police and prison officials; harsh and life-threatening prison conditions; arbitrary arrest and detention by government authorities; political prisoners or detainees; arbitrary or unlawful interference with privacy; restrictions on free expression and media, including violence, threats of violence, or unjustified arrests or prosecutions against journalists …
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US government report says Indian Muslims are vulnerable to communal violence, discrimination

13/04/2022

Scroll.in / by Scroll Staff

The report also flagged extrajudicial killings and arbitrary arrests and detentions by government authorities.
… The report specifically mentioned the treatment meted out to 84-year-old Stan Swamy, a Jesuit priest who was arrested in the Bhima Koregaon case. The case pertains to caste violence in a village near Pune in 2018. Sixteen people were arrested for allegedly plotting the violence.
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Protest for release of activists

Protest for release of activists

Left groups protest across Punjab, seek to revive spirit of Bhagat Singh’s martyrdom

17/04/2022

Counterview / by Harsh Thakor

Despite political change of guards, which brought Aam Aadmi Party to power, recent events suggest that Left-wing forces of different shades appear to be steadily gaining ground in Punjab.
… Held on April 8 in Singrur on the very day Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru flung a bomb in the parliament house to symbolise liberation from colonial slavery, the Kirti Kisan Union, Punjab Students Union, Naujwan Bharat Sabha and Zameen Prapti Sangharsh demanded unconditional release of political prisoners. Speakers summarised how activists like Gautam Navlakha , GN Saibaba, Rona Wilson, Anand Teltumbde, Varavara Rao, Umar Khalid, Sudha Bharadwaj, Devinder Ghullar etc. were branded for waging a conspiracy against the state as they were posing a question to the autocratic character of the rulers or confronting fascism.
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Protest for release of activists

09/04/2022

Times of India / by TNN

The farmer and student organisations protested in Faridkot on Friday for the release of those who have completed their sentences and of activists who have been arrested on flimsy grounds. Activists of Kirti Kisan Union, Naujwan Bharat Sabha and Punjab Students Union raised slogans for the release of Prof GN Saibaba, Anand Teltumbde, Gautam Navlakha, Umar Khalid, Devinderpal Singh Bhullar and others.
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Left leaders protest, seek release of political prisoners

08/04/2022

Tribune of India / by Tribune News Service

Members of the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) New Democracy on Friday held a protest against the non-release of Sikh prisoners who had completed their sentences and imprisonment of political prisoners, intellectuals, writers, journalists and activists in false cases.
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Hearing of Anand Teltumbde’s appeal seeking bail on merits adjourned to April 26

Hearing of Anand Teltumbde’s appeal seeking bail on merits adjourned to April 26

Hearing of Anand Teltumbde’s appeal seeking bail on merits

by Live Law (April 11):
#BombayHighCourt will continue to hear Dalit scholar – #AnandTeltumbde’splea seeking bail on merits in the #BhimaKoregaon – Elgar Parishad caste violence case. Hearing before bench of Justices Sunil Shukre and GA Sanap.

+++ Adjourned to April 26. +++

by Live Law (April 7)

#BombayHighCourt will continue to hear Dalit scholar #AnandTeltumbde’s appeal seeking bail on merits in Bhima Koregaon – Elgar Parishad caste violence case. Hearing before the bench of Justices Sunil Shukre and GA Sanap
Matter called out.
…
Adjourned to Monday for further arguments.

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Bombay HC to hear Anand Teltumbde’s appeal challenging rejection of bail on April 7

31/03/2022

The Leaflet / by Sabah Gurmat

On Thursday, the Bombay High Court’s division bench of Justices S.B. Shukre and G.A. Sanap decided to post the matter of Bhima Koregaon (Elgar Parishad) accused Anand Teltumbde’s plea challenging his rejection of bail, to April 7. The 71-year old Teltumbde is an academic and activist who has been charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act [UAPA], and the High Court had been hearing his bail plea as well as a petition challenging the conditions for bail under Section 43D(5) of the UAPA.
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Bombay HC reserves order on activist Gautam Navlakha’s plea seeking house arrest

Bombay HC reserves order on activist Gautam Navlakha’s plea seeking house arrest

Bombay HC reserves order on activist Gautam Navlakha’s plea seeking house arrest

06/04/2022

The Leaflet / by Sabah Gurmat

Tuesday, the Bombay High Court’ division bench of Justices S.B. Shukre and G.A. Sanap decided to reserve its verdict on journalist and activist Gautam Navlakha’s plea seeking house arrest in place of his incarceration at Navi Mumbai’s Taloja jail, citing his failing health conditions, and lack of proper medical care and basic facilities in prison.
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Bombay High Court reserves verdict in plea by Gautam Navlakha to be moved from prison to house arrest

05/04/2022

Bar & Bench / by Neha Joshi

Navlakha prayed that he be transferred from Taloja Central Prison and placed under house arrest on the ground that the prison conditions are not suitable for a septuagenarian suffering from medical ailments.
The Bombay High Court on Tuesday reserved its verdict in the plea filed by Bhima Koregaon accused Gautam Navlakha praying that he be transferred from Taloja prison and placed under house arrest instead [Gautam Navlakha v. National Investigation Agency & Anr.]
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by Live Law (April 5):
#BombayHighCourt will shortly hear senior journalist #GautamNavlakha’s plea to be shifted out of Taloja prison and be placed under house arrest in the #BhimaKoregaon – #ElgarParishad case. Hearing before bench of Justices Sunil Shukre and GA Sanap for NIA’s arguments.

Yesterday, the judges made scathing observations against the Maha Govt for callously dealing with Navlakha’s allegations against prison officials for denying him books, spectacles and a chair.

Matter called out ASG Anil Singh for NIA Advs Yug Mohit Chaudhry along with Payoshi Roy for Navlakha

The state tries to file a second affidavit. Adv Chaudhry objects.

…

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Prison officials didn’t allow Gautam Navlakha to access P.G. Wodehouse’s book, called it ‘security risk’

Prison officials didn’t allow Gautam Navlakha to access P.G. Wodehouse’s book, called it ‘security risk’

by Bar & Bench (April 5)
#BombayHighCourt reserves order in plea filed by #BhimaKoregaon accused Gautam Navlakha seeking house arrest.

‘Comical’: HC Slams Prison Officials’ Move to Label Wodehouse Book for Navlakha ‘Security Risk’

05/04/2022

The Wire / by The Wire Staff

The Bombay HC was also unimpressed by the fact that the prosecutor did not address Gautam Navlakha’s allegations of having been denied basic rights in jail.
The Bombay high court has expressed frank surprise at Taloja prison officials’ decision to not allow Elgar Parishad accused Gautam Navlakha to access a book by one of the world’s most well-known English humour novelists, P.G. Wodehouse, by calling it a security risk.
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Prison officials didn’t allow Gautam Navlakha to access P.G. Wodehouse’s book, called it ‘security risk’

04/04/2022

The Leaflet / by Sabah Gurmat

Asking the NIA’s advocate Sandesh Patil, ‘Is P.G. Wodehouse considered a security threat?’, the Bombay High Court observed that it is really comical.
Earlier today, the Bombay High Court heard a plea filed by human rights activist and journalist Gautam Navlakha, one of the accused in the Bhima Koregaon (Elgar Parishad) conspiracy case, seeking his transfer from Navi Mumbai’s Taloja jail to judicial custody via house arrest, citing his advanced age and on the ground that he is suffering from various ailments.
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How can PG Wodehousebook be security threat; this is comical: Bombay High Court

04/04/2022

Bar & Bench / by Neha Joshi

The remarks from the Bench came after Navlakha told the Court that Taloja prison authorities had denied him a stool, his spectacles and even a book authored by PG Wodehouse.
The Bombay High Court was on Monday staggered by the allegations raised by Bhima Koregaon accused Gautam Navlakha that Taloja prison authorities had denied him a stool, his spectacles and even a book authored by PG Wodehouse [Gautam Navlakha v. National Investigation Agency & Anr.]
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‘PG Wodehouse A Security Threat? That’s Comical’: Bombay High Court Astonished At Prison Officials Denying Gauatam Navlakha Books

04/04/2022

Live Law / by Sharmeen Hakim

The Bombay High Court on Monday came down heavily on the Maharashtra Government for its callousness in dealing with serious allegations against officials of Taloja Prison, which were levelled by senior journalist Gautam Navlakha who has been imprisoned there in the Bhima Koregaon – Elgar Parishad Case.
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Kabir Kala Manch: A History of Revolutionary Singing and State Repression

Kabir Kala Manch: A History of Revolutionary Singing and State Repression

ritimo / by Gurlhosur Geetanjali

Kabir Kala Manch founded in early 2000s has been at the receiving end of the state. As it grew in popularity its members faced incarceration for long years and continued oppression under successive governments.
“I remember it was a rainy day. I was about 23 then. When I heard the group performing in our basti (informal urban cluster), I had goosebumps! I had never heard songs that spoke of the struggles of women, Dalits and the poor. I was enthralled.”
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‘Blot on democracy’: Shashi Tharoor moves Bill to repeal UAPA

‘Blot on democracy’: Shashi Tharoor moves Bill to repeal UAPA

Scroll.in / by Scroll Staff

In his private member’s Bill, the Congress MP described the law as a ‘tool of abuse’ as its conviction rate since 2014 has been only 2.4%.
… To buttress his arguments against the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, Tharoor has mentioned in his Bill, the cases related to tribal rights activist Stan Swamy and Kerala-based journalist Siddique Kappan, who were charged under the Act.
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Why Surendra Gadling, a political prisoner, is alleging his life is in danger

Why Surendra Gadling, a political prisoner, is alleging his life is in danger

Times of India / by Parth MN

Advocate and activist Surendra Gadling, an accused in the Elagar Parishad-Maoist links case, has filed a criminal complaint against top prison authorities, claiming he is facing extreme harassment. The police, however, says that’s not the case
On November 24, 2021, Surendra Gadling “felt giddy” after visiting the toilet. The human rights lawyer and Dalit activist from Nagpur immediately went into “a semi-conscious state and fell on his back“, banging his head gainst the wall.
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Video: The Prison Song of Surendra Gadling

hindi | 11min | 2021

51- year-old Gadling, a well-known criminal lawyer in Nagpur, was once a cultural activist, who sang songs of political resistance. The 11- minutes- long rendition tells you what it means to be incarcerated in Indian prisons. From food, water, to medical care, everything is a struggle, Gadling narrates. The song was recorded by one of Gadling’s colleagues and was made available to The Wire after obtaining his consent.
Watch video