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Umar Khalid statement that he was invited to Elgar Parishad among additional evidence submitted by NIA

Umar Khalid statement that he was invited to Elgar Parishad among additional evidence submitted by NIA


Drawing by Arun Ferreira

Umar Khalid Claims He Was Invited To Elgar Parishad By Former Judge Of Bombay High Court

17/04/2022

Live Law / by Live Law News Network

The National Investigating Agency (NIA) submitted a bunch of additional documents and witness statements to the court in the 2018 Bhima Koregaon – Elgar Parishad Case, in which student rights activist Umar Khalid claims that he heard that BJP-RSS persons had attacked visitors at the Bhima-Koregaon, near Pune.
On January 1, 2018 several Dalit’s had gathered to commemorate a 200th anniversary of the battle in which the British, with the support of Dalits, defeated the Peshwa army.
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Former Bombay High Court judge Justice BG Kolse-Patil invited me to Elgar Parishad: Umar Khalid to NIA

15/04/2022

Bar & Bench / by Neha Joshi

The statement by Khalid forms part of the additional documents which the central agency submitted to the Special NIA Court in Mumbai in the Bhima Koregaon riots case of 2018 allegedly linked to the Elgar Parishad event.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has recorded statement of former Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) student and member of Unite against Hate organisation Umar Khalid in connection with the Bhima Koregaon case of 2018 allegedly linked to the Elgar Parishad event of December 31, 2017.
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Umar Khalid statement among additional evidence submitted by NIA to court

15/04/2022

The Indian Express / by Sadaf Modak

In the evidence submitted to the court, the NIA has included the statement of Khalid, recorded in the office of the deputy superintendent of Tihar jail in New Delhi, where he is lodged in connection with the Delhi riots case.
Nearly two years since the last arrests were made in the Elgaar Parishad case, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) last week submitted before the special court additional evidence running into seven volumes, including the statement of student activist Umar Khalid and documents related to Stan Swamy, the Jesuit priest who passed away last year while in judicial custody.
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Heard of BJP-RSS attack day after being at Elgar Parishad, says Umar Khalid

15/04/2022

The Times of India / by Rebecca Samervel

Among the additional documents submitted as evidence against the accused in the Elgar Parishad case is the statement of former JNU student leader Umar Khalid, who said that a day after attending the Elgar Parishad meeting in Pune, where he delivered a speech, he came to know that BJP and RSS members attacked those who had come to visit Koregaon Bhima.
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Recounting the ordeal of famed undertrials inside Taloja prison

Recounting the ordeal of famed undertrials inside Taloja prison

The Telegraph / by Pheroze L. Vincent

Gautam Navlakha and Anand Teltumbde are among the 16 people arrested for their alleged involvement in the Elgaar Parishad-Maoist links case.
The road outside the jail is paved with little chits, “like snowflakes”.
Sahba Husain, the Delhi-based author, is recalling the indelible markers chiselled into her conscience while she waited last month outside Taloja prison in Navi Mumbai to meet her partner Gautam Navlakha face to face after two years.
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PUDR: When The Process becomes The Punishment

PUDR: When The Process becomes The Punishment

Peoples Union for Democratic Rights (PUDR) / by PUDR

Tomorrow, 14th April 2022 marks the completion of two years of PUDR activist Gautam Navlakha’s surrender before the NIA. One of sixteen accused in the infamous Bhima Koregaon case, Gautam has been imprisoned in Taloja Central Jail, Navi Mumbai since 25 May 2020.  For more than six months now, since 12 October 2021, the nearly 70 years old Gautam, an undertrial suffering from multiple health problems has been in solitary confinement in one of 33 cells in the ‘anda’ circle, the High Security Area of Taloja Jail, a space meant to segregate those guilty of heinous crimes.
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Also read:
How the ‘anda cell’ is used to discipline prison inmates (The Indian Express │ Oct 2021)
System of solitary confinement, ‘Anda Cell’, inside the jail be stopped (Groundxero │ Oct 2021)

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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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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Activist Arun Ferreira alleges tampering with Covid certificate, seeks probe

Activist Arun Ferreira alleges tampering with Covid certificate, seeks probe

The Indian Express / by Express News Service

Ferreira has annexed both the certificates with his plea. Lodged at Taloja central jail, Ferreira’s plea states that on January 4, he had made an oral request to the prison superintendent seeking a copy of both his Covid vaccination certificates.
Arun Ferreira, who was arrested in the Elgaar Parishad case, has filed an application before the special court seeking an inquiry over his claim that he was given a different Covid-19 vaccination certificate from the one accessed by his family from the CoWin app.
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Also read:
For the Government, COVID Is the Perfect Excuse to Worsen Conditions for Political Prisoners (The Wire / Jan 2022)
Video: Jailed to die? India’s Incarcerated Human Rights Defenders and the Covid Ermergency (InSAF India / June 2021). Public Appeal Meeting with family members of The BK16, and legal and human rights experts.

Gautam Navlakha, in anda cell, permitted daily walk in prison

Gautam Navlakha, in anda cell, permitted daily walk in prison

Bhima-Koregaon accused Gautam Navlakha, in anda cell, permitted daily walk in prison

16/03/2022

Free Press Journal / by Bhavna Uchil

In a handwritten plea filed by Navlakha before the court on Dec 30 last year, he had sought that he be allowed an hour of fresh air and sun in the prison premises. He had submitted the plea when he was produced before the court that day along with his co-accused.
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Gautam Navlakha allowed 30 min out of anda cell

16/03/2022

The Indian Express / by Express News Service

Gautam Navlakha was arrested in April 2020 in connection with the case.
A special court on Tuesday allowed activist Gautam Navlakha, an accused in the Elgaar Parishad case, to be taken outside the anda cell he is lodged in at Taloja Central Prison for 30 minutes. Navlakha in his plea filed last December had said that he is 70 and lodged in the prison as an undertrial.
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Also read:
All I ask is an hour to breathe in fresh air, soak in sun, rights activist Gautam Navlakha in plea (Free Press Journal / Dec 2021)
How the ‘anda cell’ is used to discipline prison inmates (The Indian Express / Oct 2021)

The Security Playbook Used To Erode Democracy In Modi’s India & How The Tide Might Turn

The Security Playbook Used To Erode Democracy In Modi’s India & How The Tide Might Turn

article 14 / by Shamik Bag

By using security laws, deploying surveillance technology, and leveraging potent national interest narratives, Narendra Modi’s Hindu-first government has targeted critics and eroded the rule of law in India—often in violation of the Constitution, using legal loopholes and grey areas. Through the lens of the notorious Bhima Koregaon case, we investigate these tactics in-depth, and report how citizens are fighting to preserve the world’s largest democracy.
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NIA court allows ED to question Gautam Navlakha in Newsclick “case”

NIA court allows ED to question Gautam Navlakha in Newsclick “case”

Hindustan Times / by Vinay Dalvi

The judge also directed the superintendent of Taloja prison to cooperate with the officers and make arrangements for the same.
A special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court has allowed the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to record the statement of human rights activist Gautam Navlakha, an accused in the Elgar Parishad – Maoist link case, at Taloja Jail from Wednesday to Friday.
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Also read:
Income Tax department ‘surveys’ Newsclick, Newslaundry in tax case (Economic Times / Sep 2021)
‘Intimidatory and Blatant Attack’: Editors Guild on IT ‘Survey’ at NewsClick, Newslaundry (The Wire / Sep 2021)