Varavara Rao’s searing remembrance of Bhumaiah and Kishta Goud is also a powerful critique of the state’s right to take lives. Synopsis: Through his account of the lives and deaths of Bhumaiah and Kishta Goud, Varavara Rao crafts his memorial to two men executed during the Emergency while also penning a passionate manifesto for the abolition of the death penalty. Stirring figures like Sri Sri and the author’s own vivid memories light up the narrative.
Death. All of us who live have to embrace it in the end.
But how should it arrive? Should the state and the law have the right to take a life? Is capital punishment a barbaric relic to which these institutions, meant to be hallowed, continue to cling? Read more
Poet, Marxist critic and activist, Varavara Rao (VV) has been continually persecuted by the state and intermittently imprisoned since 1973, but he never stopped writing during all these decades, even from within prison. When he was subjected to ‘one thousand days of solitary confinement’ during 1985-89 in Secunderabad Jail, a leading national daily invited him to write about his prison experiences.
Charge of Maoist link in Press Club meet ‘mere assumption’ – Varavara Rao opposes NIA bail repeal plea
07/07/2026
The Print / by Mayank Kumar
Seeking cancellation of bail to Elgar Parishad accused, NIA alleges that January meeting at Mumbai Press Club was intended to discuss ways to spread the ‘Urban Naxal’ movement.
Poet-activist Varavara Rao has opposed the National Investigation Agency’s plea to cancel his bail in the 2018 Elgar Parishad case, saying he was merely an invitee to a Mumbai Press Club dinner and was unaware that other co-accused had also been invited, countering the NIA’s argument that they had violated bail conditions. Read more
Poet-activist Varavara Rao has opposed the NIA’s plea seeking cancellation of his bail in the Elgar Parishad case, denying he knowingly met co-accused at a Mumbai Press Club event. Rao said there is no evidence of communication with co-accused or Maoist propaganda, asserting the meeting focused on prisoners’ issues and legal matters. The NIA court will hear arguments on July 10. Read more
3 accused oppose NIA’s plea to cancel their bail for attending press club event
03/07/2026
Hindustan Times / by Vikrant Jha
Poet-activist Varavara Rao, activist Vernon Gonsalves and activist-lawyer Arun Ferreira filed separate replies before Special Judge Chakor S Baviskar, opposing the NIA’s applications seeking cancellation of their bail. The court took the replies on record and adjourned the matter to July 10 for hearing
Three accused in the Bhima Koregaon-Elgar Parishad case on Thursday opposed the National Investigation Agency (NIA)’s plea seeking cancellation of their bail. They told a special court that they were unaware they had been invited together to a January event at the Mumbai Press Club, that they had merely attended it as invitees, and that bail could not be cancelled lightly in the absence of any deliberate or substantial breach of its conditions. Read more
NIA records statement of 6 over Mumbai Press Club meet cited in Elgaar bail plea
02/07/2026
The Indian Express / by Express News Service
The agency has argued that the accused violated bail conditions prohibiting them from establishing communication with co-accused or persons allegedly involved in similar activities by attending the gathering together.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has recorded the statements of six persons, including three journalists expelled from the Mumbai Press Club and three office-bearers of the club, as part of its probe into the January 19 gathering at the club that has become central to its bid to cancel the bail of several accused in the Elgaar Parishad case. Read more
Bombay High Court seeks NIA’s reply to Varavara Rao’s plea to permanently reside in Hyderabad
13/06/2026
The Indian Express / by Express News Service
A special NIA court rejected Varavara Rao’s plea in March this year.
The Bombay High Court Friday sought the National Investigation Agency (NIA)’s reply to an appeal by poet-activist Varavara Rao, who is an accused in the Elgaar Parishad case, seeking permission to permanently live in his hometown Hyderabad, citing financial hardship and age-related constraints. Read more
Bombay High Court Seeks NIA Response On Varavara Rao’s Plea To Shift To Hyderabad
12/06/2026
Live Law / by Narsi Benwal
The Bombay High Court on Friday (June 12) issued notice on petition by 85-year-old Telugu Poet P Varavara Rao, accused under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act in the Bhima Koregaon case, seeking permission to move to Hyderabad stating that living in Mumbai is not affordable for him. Rao, has challenged a March 16 order passed by a special NIA Court, which dismissed his application to reside in Hyderabad. Read more
Bombay HC seeks NIA response to Varavara Rao’s plea for leave to shift to Hyderabad
12/06/2026
Bar & Bench / by Bar & Bench
A bail condition imposed on Rao is that he cannot leave the jurisdiction of an NIA court in Mumbai without permission. Rao has now sought permission to shift to Hyderabad.
Activist-poet P Varavara Rao, an accused in the Bhima Koregaon case, has moved the Bombay High Court seeking permission to permanently shift his residence from Mumbai to Hyderabad [P Varavara Rao v. National Investigation Agency & Ors.].
A Division Bench of Justices AS Gadkari and Kamal Khata has sought the National Investigation Agency’s (NIA) response to the plea and posted the matter for hearing after two weeks. Read more
HC seeks NIA response on Varavara Rao’s plea to move to Hyderabad
12/06/2026
Scroll.in / by Scroll Staff
The activist’s bail conditions mandate that he obtain permission from the National Investigation Agency court to travel outside Mumbai.
The Bombay High Court on Friday sought the National Investigation Agency’s response to a petition by activist-poet Varavara Rao, who is out on bail in the Bhima Koregaon case, seeking permission to permanently relocate from Mumbai to Hyderabad, Live Law reported. Read more
NIA Moves to Cancel Bails of Vernon Gonsalves and Arun Ferreira in Elgar Parishad Case
11/06/2026
The Wire / by Sukanya Shantha
It had, last month, moved a similar application seeking the cancellation of Varavara Rao and Sudha Bharadwaj’s bails.
After their prolonged incarceration and subsequent release on bail, the National Investigating Agency is eager to send the rights defenders held in the Elgar Parishad case back to jail.
The agency (NIA) had, last month, moved an application seeking cancellation of the bail of Telugu poet-activist Varavara Rao and lawyer-academic Sudha Bharadwaj. On June 10, Wednesday, the agency moved a fresh application seeking cancellation of the bails of two more activists, Vernon Gonsalves and Arun Ferreira. Read more
NIA seeks bail cancellation of Vernon Gonsalves, Arun Ferreira over violation of bail conditions
11/06/2026
Bar & Bench / by Bar & Bench
The agency alleged before the special court in Mumbai that Ferreira and Gonsalves attended a January 19 gathering at the Mumbai Press Club where other accused persons were present.
A Mumbai special court on Wednesday directed accused Vernon Gonsalves and Arun Ferreira to respond to the National Investigation Agency’s (NIA) pleas seeking cancellation of their bail in the Bhima Koregaon case over alleged violations of bail conditions. Read more
NIA moves to cancel Gonsalves, Ferreira bail in Elgar Parishad case
11/06/2026
Hindustan Times / by Vikrant Jha
Special Judge Chakor S Baviskar directed Gonsalves (68) and Ferreira (53) to file their replies to the applications, which have been posted for further consideration on June 19.
Weeks after seeking cancellation of the bail granted to Varavara Rao and Sudha Bharadwaj, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday moved a special court seeking revocation of the bail granted to activists Vernon Gonsalves and Arun Ferreira in the Elgar Parishad-Bhima Koregaon case, alleging that they violated the conditions of their release by attending a gathering at the Mumbai Press Club earlier this year. Read more
NIA seeks bail cancellation of 2 more Elgar case accused | Mumbai News
10/06/2026
The Times of India / by Rebecca Samervel
Nearly a month after seeking cancellation of the bail granted to two 2018 Elgar Parishad case accused—activist and lawyer Sudha Bharadwaj and poet Varavara Rao—NIA on Wednesday moved moved a similar plea in a special court against two co-accused, activists Vernon Gonsalves and Arun Ferreira, citing wilful violation of the bail conditions. Read more
Submit proof of bail rider violation: Elgar case accused Sudha Bharadwaj to NIA
28/05/2026
Times of India / by Rebecca Samervel
Sudha Bharadwaj asks court to order NIA to disclose witness statements and documents after agency seeks bail cancellation over alleged Elgar Parishad case, sought directions to the prosecution to furnish all the statements of witnesses recorded during an in-house inquiry and all the relevant documents cited by the agency.
The court directed the prosecution to submit its reply and posted the matter for June 10. Read more
Sudha Bhardwaj seeks material relied upon by NIA in bail cancellation plea
The Print / by pti
Elgar Parishad-Maoist links case accused Sudha Bhardwaj has sought the material relied upon by the prosecution while seeking cancellation of her bail.
The probe agency on May 15 moved the special NIA court for cancellation of bail of Bhardwaj and Varavara Rao, alleging they attended a gathering at Press Club here with the intention to propagate Maoist ideology in “blatant and wilful disregard”. …
The court on Thursday said the material be supplied to the accused only after due verification in the court. The matter will be next heard on June 10. Read more
Elgar Parishad Case: Activist Sudha Bharadwaj Seeks All Evidence Cited By NIA In Bail Cancellation Plea
28/05/2026
Free Press Journal / by Charul Shah Joshi
Activist Sudha Bharadwaj, accused in the Elgar Parishad case, sought all material relied upon by the NIA in its plea seeking cancellation of her bail and that of Varavara Rao. A Mumbai court directed verification of a pen drive containing evidence before handing it over. The NIA alleged the duo violated bail conditions by attending a January meeting with co-accused members.
Activist Sudha Bharadwaj, booked in connection with the Elgar Parishad case, has sought all the material relied on by the prosecution while seeking cancellation of bail. Read more
Bombay HC Judge Recuses From Hearing Mumbai Press Club Plea, Cites His Appearance As Prosecutor In Bhima Koregaon Case
19/05/2026
Live Law / by Narsi Benwal
The ongoing controversy over Sudha Bharadwaj and Varavara Rao – both accused in the Bhima Koregaon – Elgar Parishad case, who allegedly flouted their bail conditions and together attended an event organised by journalist Gurbir Singh at the Mumbai Press Club (MPC), reached the Bombay High Court on Tuesday (May 19) with Justice Sandesh Patil recusing from hearing the matter. Read more
Justice Sandesh Patil Recuses From Hearing Mumbai Press Club Appeal In Gurbir Singh Expulsion Case Linked to Bhima-Koregaon
19/05/2026
The Bar Bulletin / by Sakshi Singh
Justice Sandesh Patil, Judge Bombay High Court, has recused from hearing an appeal filed by the Mumbai Press Club challenging an ad-interim order passed in favour of journalist Gurbir Singh, who had been expelled from the Club following controversy over an event attended by Bhima Koregaon accused Varavara Rao and Sudha Bharadwaj.
The dispute arose after the Mumbai Press Club expelled Singh, a member of the Club, over his role in organising an event that featured poet-activist Varavara Rao and lawyer-activist Sudha Bharadwaj, both accused in the Bhima Koregaon–Elgar Parishad case. Read more
Elgar Parishad Case: NIA Seeks Cancellation of Activists Varavara Rao, Sudha Bharadwaj Bail Over Mumbai Press Club Meet
15/04/2026
The Wire / by Sukanya Shantha
The NIA told a special court that the January gathering at the club violated a bail condition that bars communication between co-accused in the case, which has gone on for nearly eight years without trial.
Weeks after the Mumbai Press Club created a controversy over defendants in the Elgar Parishad case visiting the club, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has now swooped in. The central agency, which is handling the controversial 2018 case, on Thursday, May 15, sought cancellation of the bail granted to two accused – Telugu poet-activist Varavara Rao and lawyer-academic Sudha Bharadwaj. Read more
Bhima Koregaon case: NIA seeks cancellation of bail for activists Varavara Rao, Sudha Bharadwaj
15/04/2026
Scroll.in / by Scroll Staff
The agency alleged that they violated their bail conditions by taking part in a meeting at the Mumbai Press Club, where other accused persons were present.
The National Investigation Agency on Friday moved a special court in Mumbai seeking that the bail granted to activists Varavara Rao and Sudha Bharadwaj in the Bhima Koregaon case be cancelled.
The court has directed the activists to respond to the applications, The Indian Express reported. Read more
NIA seeks cancellation of bail granted to Sudha Bharadwaj and Varavara Rao in Elgar Case
15/04/2026
The Indian Express / by Express News Service
Agency alleges violation of bail conditions over Mumbai Press Club event; court to hear matter on May 22
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday moved an application before a special court here seeking cancellation of bail granted to activists Sudha Bharadwaj and Varavara Rao in the Elgar Parishad–Maoist links case, alleging violation of bail conditions.
Bharadwaj was granted bail on technical grounds in 2021, while Rao was released from prison a year later. Read more
Anand Patwardhan: The taming of the Mumbai Press Club
07/05/2026
Scroll.in / by Anand Patwardhan
The expulsion of the institution’s former president and two other veteran journalists is a sign of how spaces for democratic discussion are shrinking in India.
… The reasons advanced for Singh’s expulsion are instructive. Apparently, he was present at a discussion on prison conditions held on the terrace of the Press Club where several persons who are out on bail in the Bhima Koregaon case also attended. Read more
Mumbai Press Club Suspensions Over Elgar Parishad Accused Visit Spark Row; NIA Inquiry Raises Stakes
03/05/2026
The Wire / by Sukanya Shantha
Involvement in a legal case has never been a criterion for denying access to the club premises before. Guests, including political leaders with pending criminal cases, regularly visit the premises.
Days after the Mumbai Press Club suspended three senior members for six years for inviting human rights defenders and academics linked to the Elgar Parishad case to the club, the National Investigating Agency (NIA) has entered the controversy. In an email sent out to the members of the club, it was stated that the central agency visited the premises on Wednesday (April 29) and conducted an “inquiry”. Read more
NIA seeks documents from Mumbai Press Club after gathering attended by Bhima Koregaon accused
02/05/2026
Scroll.in / by Scroll Staff
The club claimed that the social gathering raised questions about a possible violation of the bail conditions of the persons accused in the case.
The National Investigation Agency on Friday sought documents from the Mumbai Press Club related to a social gathering that was attended by some of the persons accused in the 2018 Bhima Koregaon case who are out on bail, the Mumbai Press Club said in a statement emailed to members. Read more
NIA visits Mumbai Press Club after it suspends three members over Bhima Koregaon accused gathering
02/05/2026
The Indian Express / by Vallabh Ozarkar
The agency sought documents related to a January event attended by Bhima Koregaon accused out on bail, after the club suspended three members for allegedly facilitating it, a charge they deny, with former president Gurbir Singh calling it politically motivated ahead of club elections.
Two days after the Mumbai Press Club suspended three members over an event attended by accused persons out on bail in the Bhima Koregaon case, officials of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) visited the club seeking documents related to the gathering, according to a statement issued by the club Friday. Read more
The arson case has been linked to the Bhima-Koregaon case. 12-page common order effectively rejects discharge pleas of accused, sets stage for trial to commence.
Charges were framed last month against advocate Surendra Gadling in the Gadchiroli-Surajgarh arson case which has long been stalled and linked with the Bhima Koregaon case, the Supreme Court was told Thursday.
In an affidavit filed before the apex court, the Registrar General of the Bombay High Court (Nagpur Bench) submitted details of the exact steps taken by the High Court to ensure video conferencing for Surendra Gadling. It said the trial court framed charges in the case on 18 March this year. Read more
A special NIA court this week rejected the plea of 85-year-old poet and activist P Varavara Rao to permanently relocate to his hometown of Hyderabad on medical and financial grounds.
Rao sought the relief on the ground that living in Mumbai has become a financial burden, noting that while his monthly pension is approximately Rs 50,000 rupees, while his living expenses in the city exceed Rs 77,000. The activist stated that relying on his children to bridge this financial gap was “affecting his dignity and self independence.” Read more
‘Can’t travel beyond SC’: NIA court says no to activist Varavara Rao’s relocation plea
18/03/2026
The Print / by pti
A special NIA court in Mumbai has refused permission to poet-activist Varavara Rao, an accused in the Elgar Parishad-Maoist links case, to permanently relocate to his hometown Hyderabad, citing lack of authority to modify bail conditions set by the Supreme Court.
Rao (85), in a plea, had sought permission from the National Investigation Agency (NIA) court for relocating to his hometown on grounds of advanced age and financial hardship. Read more
