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.” Read more
The Security Playbook Used To Erode Democracy In Modi’s India & How The Tide Might Turn
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. Read more
Hany Babu, Sagar Gorkhe, Jyoti Jagtap, Ramesh Gaichor
Plan to end Modi raj with Rajiv Gandhi type incident and other reasons NIA Court refused bail to 4 accused [read orders]
22/02/2022
Bar & Bench / by Neha Joshi
Special NIA Judge rejected regular bail applications of Sagar Gorkhe, Ramesh Gaichor, Jyoti Jagtap and Associate Professor Hany Babu.
The Special Court under National Investigation Agency (NIA) Act rejected bail applications of four accused in the Bhima Koregaon case of 2018 relying upon a letter written by the accused which mentioned about ending the Modi-raj in the country. Read more
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). Read more
No hesitation to prima facie conclude that applicant was actively involved in activities of banned organisation: NIA Court
21/02/2022
Free Press Journal / by Staff Reporter
A special court that last week denied bail to Delhi University’s associate professor Hany Babu, an accused in the Elgar Parishad – Bhima Koregaon case, has said in its detailed order that if material on record is taken into consideration, there would be no hesitation to prima facie conclude that he was actively involved in activities of the banned organisation. Read more
Special NIA Court rejects former CM Fadnavis’ statement as evidence, denies bail to three Bhima Koregaon accused
19/02/2022
The Leaflet / by The Leaflet
A special National Investigative Agency (NIA) court denied bail on Monday to three persons accused in the Bhima Koregaon (Elgar Parishad) case and declined to consider former Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’ statement in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly. The court, while denying bail, maintained that the accused hatched a “serious conspiracy” to create unrest in the country.
The three accused — Jyoti Jagtap, Sagar Gorkhe and Ramesh Gaichor — are musical performers, anti-caste activists and members of the cultural troupe Kabir Kala Manch. Read more
Special NIA Court rejects former CM Fadnavis’ statement as evidence, denies bail to three Bhima Koregaon accused
19/02/2022
The Leaflet / by The Leaflet
A special National Investigative Agency (NIA) court denied bail on Monday to three persons accused in the Bhima Koregaon (Elgar Parishad) case and declined to consider former Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’ statement in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly. The court, while denying bail, maintained that the accused hatched a “serious conspiracy” to create unrest in the country. Read more
CM’s Statement On Presence Of Crowd With Saffron Flags During Bhima Koregaon Protest ‘Extraneous’: NIA Court While Rejecting Bail
17/02/2022
Live Law / by Sahrmeen Hakim
Fadnavis spoke about the unexpected presence of over 200-300 people holding saffron flags on the day of violence.
The NIA court has declined to consider Maharashtra’s ex-Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’s statement in the State Legislative Assembly on the issue of caste violence at Bhima Koregaon while rejecting bail applications of three accused. The then Chief Minister had spoken on the floor of the house about the presence of around 200-300 people holding saffron flags, sloganeering at the place of the caste violence on January 1, 2018. Read more
Accused wanted to create unrest in country, says NIA court
17/02/2022
Hindustan Times / by Vinay Dalvi
Though the verdict was pronounced on Monday, the detailed order became available late in the evening on Wednesday.
“From the documents and letters placed on record, prima facie it can be gathered that the applicants along with other members of the banned organisation hatched a serious conspiracy to create unrest in the entire country and to overpower the government politically,” the special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court has said, while rejecting bail pleas of Kabir Kala Manch members Jyoti Jagtap, Sagar Gorkhe and Ramesh Gaichor. Read more
Video Statement by Sagar Gorkhe and Ramesh Gaichor (Sep 5, 2020)
hindi (en subtitles) | 2:20min | 2020
Before arresting them, NIA allegedly offered to let off Kabir Kala Manch musicians Sagar Gorkhe and Ramesh Gaichor if they admitted to Maoist links, to indict activists arrested in the #BhimaKoregaon case. Watch video
Special Judge DE Kothalikar rejected bail applications of Kabir Kala Manch members Jyoti Jagtap, Sagar Gorkhe and Ramesh Gaichor and associate professor Hany Babu.
A Special Court in Maharashtra on Monday rejected the bail plea of four accused in the Bhima Koregaon case of 2018 being investigated by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
The members of the allegedly banned organization Kabir Kala Manch along with Babu were arrested by the NIA in 2020. Read more
Special NIA Court Refuses Bail To DU Associate Prof Hany Babu And Three Kabir Kala Manch Members
14/02/2022
Live Law / by Sharmee Hakim
Special Judge DE Kothalikar refused bail to Delhi University associate professor – Hany Babu, and members of cultural group Kabir Kala Manch members – Sagar Gorkhe, Ramesh Gaichor and Jyoti Jagtap. The National Investigation Agency arrested Babu in July 2020 and the remaining three in September 2020. Read more
Hany Babu, three Kabir Kala Manch members denied bail in Bhima-Koregaon case
14/02/2022
Free Press Journal / by Bhavna Uchil
A special court on Monday denied bail to four accused in the Elgar Parishad – Bhima Koregaon case – Delhi University associate professor Hany Babu and Kabir Kala Manch members Sagar Gorkhe, Jyoti Jagtap and Ramesh Gaichor.
Gorkhe and Gaichor had sought bail on the grounds that they had been prosecuted in a similar case in 2014, in which they had secured bail from the Supreme Court. Read more
All I ask is an hour to breathe in fresh air, soak in sun, rights activist Gautam Navlakha in plea
All I ask is an hour to breathe in fresh air, soak in sun, rights activist Gautam Navlakha in plea
31/12/2021
The Free Press Journal / by Bhavna Uchil
Rights activist Gautam Navlakha, an accused in the Bhima-Koregaon case lodged in the anda cell of Taloja Central Prison, made a handwritten application before a special court on Thursday, seeking that he be allowed an hour of fresh air and sun in the prison premises.
He, along with his co-accused, were produced before the special court on Thursday when he submitted the plea. Read more
Court allows Gautam Navlakha’s partner to meet him in jail
31/12/2021
The Indian Express / by Express News Service
Gautam Navlakha has been lodged in Taloja Central Jail since last April.
A special court on Thursday allowed an application filed by activist Gautam Navlakha, an accused in the Elgaar Parishad case, to allow his partner Sahba Husain to meet him in prison. Read more
Criticism of government, PM Modi not sedition, UAPA: Accused to NIA court
24/11/2021
Bar & Bench / by Neha Joshi
Accused Ramesh Gaichor and Sagar Gorkhe had been arrested in 2020 by the NIA for allegedly making inflammatory speeches leading to the riots of Bhima Koregaon in 2018.
Ramesh Gaichor and Sagar Gorkhe, accused in the Bhima Koregaon case of 2018, have approached the Special Court under the National Investigation Act seeking bail. Read more
Within my rights to speak against political party, its leader: Elgar Parishad accused in bail plea
24/11/2021
India Today / by Vidya
Two accused in the Elgar Parishad case of 2018 have approached the special court dealing with National Investigation Agency (NIA) cases, seeking bail.
The two, Ramesh Gaichor and Sagar Gorkhe, are alleged to be members of the banned organisation Kabir Kala Manch. They were arrested by the NIA in 2020 and charged with sedition under the Indian Penal Code and under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for allegedly giving inflammatory performances at the Elgar Parishad event organised in the heart of Pune city, which led to the riots at Bhima Koregaon in 2018. Read more
Condemn The Solitary Confinement Of The Bhima Koregaon Accused!
CONDEMN THE SOLITARY CONFINEMENT AND CONTINUING HARASSMENT OF THE BHIMA KOREGAON ACCUSED BY TALOJA CENTRAL JAIL AUTHORITIES!
STOP PUNISHING POLITICAL PRISONERS FOR THEIR BELIEFS!
The high handedness of the Taloja Central Jail administration was evident in the events leading to the death of the octogenarian Bhima Koregaon undertrail, Stan Swamy on July 5, 2021. Almost immediately, the remaining BK undertrials protested the arbitrary jail conditions imposed by the then Superintendent, Kaustabh Kurlekar by observing a one-day hunger strike. However, far from bringing such persecution to an end, a new repressive regime has been installed by Superintendent UT Pawar. Its latest manifestation is the transfer of Vernon Gonsalves, Sagar Gokhale, Ramesh Gaichor, Surendra Gadling, Sudhir Dhawale and most recently on 12 October 2021 Gautam Navlakha to the ‘anda’ circle, the high security prison area in Taloja Jail. Imprisonment in the anda cell is a form of solitary confinement which is blatantly illegal in the case of undertrial prisoners. Read full statement
While out on temporary bail in August, the rights activist sang a song written by Kabir Kala Manch’s Ramesh Gaichor for his friends and colleagues about the sordid conditions in prison.
Mumbai: Surendra Gadling, a human rights lawyer from Nagpur, has always considered courtrooms his stage. Between serious arguments, he would casually break into songs of cultural and political resistance. He would be commonly found invoking political theories and remembering shahirs from the Dalit community amid serious legal arguments. His court appearances usually attracted an eager audience from among his peers and junior lawyers. Read more
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
Silence on letter on Father Stan Swamy’s jail torment
12/10/2021
The Telegraph / by Pheroze L. Vincent
A three-month-old letter by three Elgaar Parishad co-accused alleging “institutional murder” of Father Stan Swamy and accusing then Taloja prison superintendent Kaustubh Kurlekar of mistreating him has yet to evoke any response from the Maharashtra authorities it was sent to.
The letter alleged the 84-year-old Jesuit and tribal rights defender from Jharkhand was strip-searched “in front of the entire staff” when he was brought to the jail, and was kept in isolation so the Parkinson’s patient could not receive any help from fellow prisoners. Read more
Stan Swamy’s Death was an Institutional Murder: Co-inmates write to Uddhav Thackeray
06/10/2021
NewsClick / by Parth M.N.
The letter holds the superintendent of Taloja Prison, Kaustubh Kurlekar, responsible for Swamy’s death, and accuses him of purposely emasculating Swamy’s physical health and mental resolve.
Three political prisoners arrested in the Bhima Koregaon-Elgar Parishad case have written a letter to the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Uddhav Thackeray. The letter claims that father Stan Swamy, a tribal rights activist based in Jharkhand, did not die a natural death. “It was an institutional murder,” says the letter, signed by human rights lawyer Surendra Gadling, and cultural activists Ramesh Gaichor and Sagar Gorkhe, who were eyewitnesses to the treatment meted out to Swamy in prison. Read more
