case update – Page 41 – free them all

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

31/01/2021 Rani

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

What are your apprehensions if Varavara Rao is granted bail, HC asks NIA

29/01/2021 Rani

What are your apprehensions if Varavara Rao is granted bail, HC asks NIA

29/01/2021

Hindustan Times / by K A Y Dodhiya

Stressing on the need of striking a balance between fundamental rights of a prisoner to have a healthy life and the facilities available for treating ailing prisoners in jails, the Bombay high court (HC) on Thursday has sought to know from the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on their apprehensions in the event 82-year-old Telugu poet P Varavara Rao is released on bail on medical grounds.
… The court has now posted the hearing on February 3.
Read more

What is the quality of life of a 82-year-old in detention? Bombay High Court asks during Varavara Rao bail hearing

28/01/2021

Bar & Bench / by Neha Joshi

“Is it worth to wait for another emergency to happen to take him to Nanavati only because we reject his bail because of your apprehension?”, the Court asked counsel for NIA.
The Bench of Justices SS Shinde and Manish Pitale raised the question during Rao’s plea for grant of bail on medical grounds along with the plea filed by his wife seeking the Court’s intervention in view of the violation of his fundamental right to health.
Read more

‘Varavara Rao Doesn’t Have Dementia, Reject His Medical Bail Plea,’ NIA Tells Bombay HC

28/01/2021

The Wire / by The Wire Staff

When asked by the HC bench as to why Rao was taking 20 pills if he was stable, the NIA counsel said the pills were ‘age related.’
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday urged the Bombay high court to reject the plea for bail on medical grounds filed by poet-activist Varavara Rao, arguing that his present health condition is stable and that he no longer suffers from dementia.
Read more

Varavara Rao Can Be Sent Back To Prison, He Has No Dementia: NIA Submits Before Bombay High Court

27/01/2021

Live Law / by Sharmeen Hakim

Does the octogenarian poet Dr Varavara Rao suffer from dementia? The question seems to have become the focal argument in petitions seeking to set him at liberty and as both the sides are now arguing on the point whether Dr Rao’s cognitive functions are strong enough for him to be able to take care of himself or no.
… The bench then directed the hospital to submit a fresh report on Rao’s heath condition and adjourned the case for Thursday.
Read more

Varavara Rao seeks temporary bail, State suggests transfer to JJ Hospital

22/01/2021 Rani

Varavara Rao seeks temporary bail, State suggests transfer to JJ Hospital

22/01/2021

Sabrang / by Sabrang India

Indira Jaising argued that no penological purpose would be served by keeping the ailing man detained.
Dr. Varavara Rao’s bail hearing which has been in progress since January 19 and which continued until January 21, has now been adjourned to January 27. Division bench of Justices SS Shinde and Manish Pitale have been hearing the petition and taking stock of Dr. Rao’s medical condition. Rao was admitted to the Nanavati Hospital on the court’s orders previously in view of his deteriorating health.
Read more

‘When You Are Selectively Charging People, You Are Undermining Rule Of Law’: Jaising In Varavara Rao’s Bail Plea

22/01/2021

Live Law / by Sharmeen Hakim

The Maharashtra State informed the Bombay High Court on Thursday that the state was willing to shift 81-year-old Telugu poet Varavara Rao directly to Sir JJ Hospital instead of sending him back to the Taloja Prison Hospital.
Rao, an accused under the UAPA in the Elgar Parishad – Maoist Links case, suffers from various medical complications and is currently admitted in Nanavati Super Speciality Hospital. A team of experts has informed the court last week that Rao is fit for discharge.
Arguing Rao’s bail on medical grounds, his lawyers have repeatedly emphasized the lack of infrastructure in the prison hospital to monitor his condition and therefore suggested interim bail for at least three months for the ailing man.
Read more

Ready to shift Varavara Rao to JJ hospital prison ward: Maharashtra to HC

21/01/2021

Times of India / by Swati Deshpande

The State on Thursday said Telugu poet and Elgar Parishad accused P Varavara Rao, 81, can be shifted to the prison ward of the government-run JJ Hospital where he would get all the medical care needed.
… Additional solicitor general Anil Singh for National Investigation Agency (NIA) will make his submission on January 27 in a petition filed by Rao’s wife Hemlatha, for his release on bail on medical grounds from Taloja prison.
Read more

Jail hospitals well-equipped to monitor Varavara Rao: NIA tells Bombay HC

21/01/2021

Hindustan Times / by K A Y Dodhiya

Asserting that Taloja jail hospital is well-equipped to monitor the health of Elgar Parishad case accused P Varavara Rao, Maharashtra government and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday informed the Bombay high court (HC) that the 82-year-old Telugu poet could be shifted to Taloja jail.
Read more

Grant Varavara Rao Interim Bail For Three Months – His Lawyers Plead Before The Bombay High Court

20/01/2021

Live Law / by Sharmeen Hakim

Advocates appearing for 81-year-old UAPA accused – Dr Varavara Rao – have for the first time suggested to the Bombay High Court on Wednesday that the ailing Telugu poet be released on temporary bail for three months, his conduct be monitored and he be directed to report to some authority, after which he may be allowed to remain on bail.
Read more

Do Not Send Varavara Rao Back to Taloja Jail: Anand Grover Urges Bombay High Court

20/01/2021

Live Law / by Sharmeen Hakim

Even as Nanavati Super Speciality Hospital has finally said that the ailing 81- year-old Telugu poet – Varavara Rao – is fit for discharge, Senior Advocate Anand Grover urged the Bombay High Court on Tuesday to grant him bail on medical grounds as the Taloja Jail Hospital does not have the infrastructure to monitor his condition.
Read more

Jail hospital ill-equipped to monitor Varavara Rao’s health, counsel tells Bombay HC

19/01/2021

Hindustan Times / by K A Y Dodhiya

The counsel for P Hemlatha, wife of 82-year-old Telugu poet P Varavara Rao, on Tuesday, argued before the Bombay high court (HC) that though Nanavati Hospital had said that Rao was fit to be discharged, Taloja jail hospital does not have the wherewithal to continue close monitoring of Rao’s health. Hence, she said it would be better to allow the Telugu poet to go back home to Hyderabad where his condition could be closely monitored by Rao’s daughter and granddaughter, both of whom are doctors, as per the recommendations by the Nanavati Hospital.
Read more

Varavara Rao’s bail plea: Taloja Jail inadequate to monitor his health, lawyer tells Bombay HC

19/01/2021

Scroll.in / by Scroll Staff

The activist’s counsel also said that Rao was suffering from kidney failure and a host of other ailments.
Poet-activist Varavara Rao’s counsel on Tuesday asked the Bombay High Court to grant him bail on medical grounds, submitting that the Taloja Prison hospital lacks adequate infrastructure to treat him, PTI reported.
… The court will continue hearing the bail plea on Wednesday, PTI reported.
Read more

Casteist forces cannot digest success of a Dalit scholar: Anand Teltumbde in his bail plea

17/01/2021 Rani

Casteist forces cannot digest success of a Dalit scholar: Anand Teltumbde in his bail plea

17/01/2021

Bar & Bench / by Neha Joshi

Dalit activist Anand Teltumbde, accused in the Bhima Koregaon case, has sought release on bail before the Special NIA Court, Mumbai. He is presently detained in Taloja jail since April 2020.
Casteist forces cannot digest his success and his implication in the Bhima Koregaon violence is an attempt to belittle his achievements and humiliate Dalits, activist and scholar Anand Teltumbde told the Special National Investigation Agency (NIA) Court at Mumbai in his application seeking bail.
Read more

Anand Teltumbde files bail plea before Special court

15/01/2021

Sabrang / by Sabrang India

In his plea, he has completely denied his Maoist connections and has stated that he has instead been critical of the ideology.
Anand Teltumbde, former Professor at IIT and academic, has once again sought bail from Special NIA court, Mumbai as he has been in the agency’s custody since April 2020. The hearing is likely to take place on January 27 at the special NIA Court. He was earlier denied bail by the court in July 2020.
Read more

Anand Teltumbde didn’t attend Elgar Parishad, says bail plea

14/01/2021

The Times of India / by Rebecca Samervel

Refuting allegations that he was one of the conveners of of Elgar Parishad, arrested activist and academic, Anand Teltumbde, in his bail plea said he had made a brief visit to Shanirwada on December 31, 2017, to meet his wife’s nephew and sister-in-law and that he was in Pune to attend the wedding of his former classmate’s son.
Read more

Have always been critical of Maoist ideology, says Anand Teltumbde in bail plea

14/01/2021

India Today / by Vidya

Anand Teltumbde, an accused in the Bhima Koregaon violence case, filed a bail application before a special NIA court on Wednesday and argued that investigators have no evidence about his alleged association with the Maoists.
In his 64-page bail plea, Teltumbde said contrary to the allegations levelled against him, he has always been critical of the Maoist ideology and even a written a book on the subject.
Read more

Activist Anand Teltumbde Files New Bail Plea

12/01/2021

Outlook / by Outlook Web Bureau

Months after a special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in Mumbai refused to grant “default” bail to academician-activist Anand Teltumbde, he moved a fresh bail plea before court on Tuesday.
Read more

Sudha Bharadwaj allowed access to 5 books per month from outside jail

14/01/2021 Rani

Sudha Bharadwaj allowed access to 5 books per month from outside jail

14/01/2021

Hindustan Times / by Charul Shah

The special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court on Tuesday allowed access to books from outside the prison, to activist and lawyer Sudha Bharadwaj.
The special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court on Tuesday allowed access to books from outside the prison, to activist and lawyer Sudha Bharadwaj. The court has, however, asked the prison authorities to check the contents, if they are objectionable, before allowing the same.
Read more

NIA Court Allows Sudha Bharadwaj’s Application Seeking Access To Five Books A Month From Outside

14/01/2021

Live Law / by Nitish Kashyap

The special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court on Tuesday allowed access of five books a month to lawyer and activist Sudha Bharadwaj, who is a accused in the caste based violence that took place on the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Bhima Koregaon on January 1, 2018.
Special Judge DE Kothalikar directed the Superintendent of Byculla District Prison to grant the access of books to Sudha Bharadwaj with the condition that the said books will be examined by him.
Read more

Consider Varavara Rao’s age, health while arguing against bail plea: Bombay HC to NIA [read order]

14/01/2021 Rani

Consider Varavara Rao’s age, health while arguing against bail plea: Bombay HC to NIA [read order]

14/01/2021

Sabrang / by Sabrang India

The court further extended his hospital stay while taking on record his medical reports filed by the hospital.
The Bombay High Court commented, during the hearing of Dr. Varavara Rao’s bail plea, that the government and the NIA should take into consideration his age and ailing condition while arguing against the plea. The next hearing is scheduled for January 19, as per court’s orders. It is expected that on the next date, parties will make submissions with regards to the bail plea.
Read more

Consider Varavara Rao’s age and health: Bombay HC tells NIA on activist’s medical bail plea

13/01/2021

Scroll.in / by Scroll Staff

The NIA presented two fresh reports from Nanavati Hospital on Rao’s health to the court.
The Bombay High Court on Wednesday said that the National Investigation Agency and Maharashtra government should keep in mind the age and health condition of poet-activist Varavara Rao while making submissions on his bail plea, PTI reported. A bench of Justices SS Shinde and Manish Pitale was hearing the plea moved by Rao’s wife Hemlata, seeking relief on medical grounds.
Read more

HC Orders Hospital To Submit Fresh Report On Varvara Rao’s Health Condition [read order]

08/01/2021 Rani

Bombay HC Orders Nanavati Hospital To Submit Fresh Report On Varvara Rao’s Health Condition [read order]

08/01/2021

Live Law / by Nitish Kashyap

The Bombay High Court on Thursday directed the Nanavati Super Speciality Hospital at Mumbai to submit a fresh report about the health condition of Dr. PV Varavara Rao on the next date of hearing on January 13 and observed that the 81-year-old Telugu poet accused in the Bhima Koregaon violence will remain in hospital till then.
Read more

Court allows Varavara Rao to stay in hospital till January 13

07/01/2021

Hindustan Times / by K A Y Dodhia

Rao is among over a dozen scholars and rights activists arrested for their alleged links with Maoists and for allegedly instigating violence at Bhima Koregaon near Pune in 2018.
The Bombay high court on Thursday allowed ailing jailed Telugu poet P Varavara Rao, 82, to remain until January 13 in a Mumbai hospital, where he was late last year admitted to on the court’s directions for better treatment.
The extension was granted even as Rao’s condition has improved after his wife, P Hemlatha, sought one-week to go through his medical reports. It also scheduled the hearing of his bail plea on health grounds on January 13.
Read more

Varavara Rao to remain in hospital till next week, says HC

07/01/2021

The Telegraph / by Telegraph Bureau, Agencies

Division bench extends activist’s stay, state government submits health update.
The Bombay High Court on Thursday said that jailed Telugu poet-activist Varavara Rao will continue to stay at a private hospital in Mumbai till January 13.
Rao, 80, an accused in the Elgar Parishad-Maoist links case, was admitted to Nanavati Hospital in the city owing to his health issues in November following the court’s orders.
Read more

Withdraw scurrilous allegations: Sudha Bharadwaj files application against NIA

29/12/2020 Rani

Withdraw scurrilous allegations: Sudha Bharadwaj files application against NIA and its lawyers

29/12/2020

Bar & Bench / by Neha Joshi

She has stated that the Court should not be reduced to a forum of gossip and slander under the guise of legal arguments.
Bhima Koregaon case accused Sudha Bharadwaj has filed an application in the Special NIA Court at Mumbai praying for the withdrawal of the allegations made against her in the reply filed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
Read more

Sudha Bharadwaj requests NIA to withdraw ‘defamatory’ remark

29/12/2020

Free Press Journal / by Bhavna Uchil

Activist Sudha Bharadwaj made an application before the special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court on Tuesday, seeking that court direct the agency and its prosecutor withdraw their “defamatory” remark against her.
On December 10, Bharadwaj had made a plea seeking copies of witness statements in which the identities of witnesses and their addresses be protected as allowed by law, but the contents of the statements not be truncated in various portions. Her plea had said that the truncation is obstructing her defence as the statements are not making sense with the truncations.
Read more

Special court directs NIA to supply statements of witnesses to Sudha Bharadwaj

29/12/2020

Goa Cronicle / by GC News Desk

The Special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court at Mumbai directed the NIA to provide copies of the unredacted statements of the witnesses to Bhima Koregaon accused, Sudha Bharadwaj.
The Court said that the statements should be provided without truncation except for the identity and addresses of the witnesses which can be redacted.
Read more

Varavara Rao to remain in hospital; Bombay HC to hear poet’s bail plea on Jan 7

22/12/2020 Rani

P Varavara Rao to stay at Nanavati Hospital till January 7: Bombay HC

22/12/2020

Hindustan Times / by K A Y Dodhiya

The Bombay high court (HC) has directed the state government and National Investigation Agency (NIA) to let Telugu poet and accused in the Bhima-Koregaon case, P Varavara Rao stay in Nanavati Hospital till the next hearing on January 7, 2021.
The court, while taking note of the 82-year-old’s current health status asked the hospital to submit the latest health report before the next hearing, and also announced that it would hear the pleas on the next date of hearing as the same was pending for some time now.
Read more

Varavara Rao to remain in Nanavati hospital; Bombay HC to hear ailing poet’s bail plea on Jan 7

21/12/2020

The Leaflet / by The Leaflet

The Bombay High Court Monday directed the Nanavati hospital to submit a fresh report to the Court indicating the health status of Dr. PV Varavara Rao, an accused in the Bhima Koregaon case.
A division bench of Justices SS Shinde and MS Karnik also ordered Dr. Rao’s continued treatment at Nanavati hospital till the next date of hearing i.e. January 7, 2021.
Read more

Varavara Rao to remain in Nanavati Hospital till January 7 as Bombay HC adjourns his bail plea

21/12/2020

Scroll.in / by Scroll Staff

The Bombay High Court on Monday extended Telugu poet and activist Varavara Rao’s stay at Nanavati Hospital in Mumbai till January 7, 2021, reported Bar and Bench. Rao, an accused in the Bhima Koregaon case, has been at the private medical facility since mid-November.
Read more

VV’s Update from Hospital / Varavara Rao to remain at Nanavati hospital till Dec 21

16/12/2020 Rani

VV’s Update from Hospital

16/12/2020

Release the Poet / by N Venugopal

Prisoned Peoples’ Poet Varavara Rao is doing far better now. Hospital care, nursing, regular check-ups, medication have helped a lot. Meeting his own people everyday, even if for an hour a day, reading Telugu after two years added strength. Still physical weakness persists; post-covid issues are there. Sending back to jail might aggravate this again.
We have to see what happens on Dec 21 court hearing…

Varavara Rao’s health better, hospital stay to continue till Bombay HC decides on bail plea

16/12/2020

India Today / by Vidya

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has told the Bombay High Court that jailed activist Varavara Rao is fit enough to be sent back to jail. Varavara Rao was moved to a hospital over his ailing health.
During the hearing, Varavara Rao’s lawyers sought bail for him… While trying to emphasise that granting bail to Varavara Rao would not mean that he would run away from the trial, Anand Grover said, “He has been tried for 24 cases in his lifetime which is not a joke for anyone and he has been acquitted in all of them. He has been chargesheeted and acquitted. He never absconded and has stood trial and he will stand trial here as well and that should be considered while granting him bail.”
Read more

Varavara Rao to remain at Nanavati hospital till Dec 21: Bombay HC

15/12/2020

The Indian Express / by Express News Service

Varavara Rao, who is lodged at Taloja Central Jail, was shifted to the private hospital following a court order on November 18.
The Bombay High Court on Tuesday allowed Telugu writer-poet Varavara Rao, arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in the Elgaar Parishad case, to remain at Nanavati hospital in Mumbai till the next hearing on December 21.
Read more

Bombay HC extends Varavara Rao’s hospital stay, NIA says he is fit to go back to jail

15/12/2020

Scroll.in / by Scroll Staff

During the hearing, Rao’s counsels pleaded that he be permitted to go back to his home in Hyderabad for treatment.
The National Investigation Agency on Tuesday told the Bombay High Court that Telugu poet and activist Varavara Rao, accused in the Bhima Koregaon case, was “fit enough” to be shifted back to the Taloja Jail in Navi Mumbai from a private hospital where he is currently admitted, PTI reported.
Read more