Pendyala Pavana is no stranger to the world of social activism and government repression. Ever since she was a child she has seen her father, a revolutionary poet and activist, subjected to repeated criminal charges, accused of everything under the sun, including murder.
Twenty-four times he has been charged; 24 times he has been found not guilty. Still, Ms. Pavana is shocked by the way her father, Varavara Rao, is being treated in his latest ordeal. “It’s quite against natural justice, and his rights are completely denied,” she says. Read more
4,690 UAPA arrests between 2018-21; only 3.1% convictions
22/12/2021
The Federal / by The Federal
Authorities arrested 4,690 people across India under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) between 2018 and 2021, but only 149 detainees have so far been convicted, according to figures provided by the government.
That means only 3.1 per cent of the arrests under the draconian law in the past three years have ended in convictions. Read more
Poet-activist Varavara Rao’s medical bail extended till Jan 7, Bombay HC grants time to file affidavit
Poet-activist Varavara Rao’s medical bail extended till Jan 7, Bombay HC grants time to file affidavit
21/12/2021
The Leaflet / by the Leaflet
Monday, December 20, the Bombay High Court allowed time to continue to examine Bhima Koregaon/Elgar Parishad case accused Dr. P.V. Varavara Rao’s request seeking extension of his medical bail. Rao, who was granted bail for six months on February 22, 2021, got an extension till January 7, 2022 and his counsel was allowed to file the affidavit by December 28. Read more
Poet Varavara Rao’s medical bail extended till January 7
20/12/2021
Scroll.in / by Scroll Staff
The Bombay High Court allowed him to file an affidavit against a private hospital report suggesting that his health condition was ‘cognitively normal’.
The Bombay High Court on Monday extended the medical bail of poet Varavara Rao till January 7 in the Bhima Koregaon case, Live Law reported. At a previous hearing, the High Court had extended his bail till Monday. Read more
Bombay HC Extends Varavara Rao’s Time To Surrender Till Jan 7, Permits Him To Respond To Medical Reports
20/12/2021
Live Law / by Sharmeen Hakim
The Bombay High Court on Monday extended Telugu poet Varavara Rao’s time to surrender before prison authorities till January 7, while posting his application for extension of medical bail for further consideration on January 4.
A division bench of Justices Nitin Jamdar and Sarang Kotwal also permitted Rao’s counsels to file an affidavit and respond to a private hospital’s reports concluding that his condition was normal as “he is able to perform activities of daily living.” Read more
Bombay HC allows Varavara Rao to file affidavit after hospital declares his parameters’ normal
20/12/2021
Times of India / by Swati Deshpande
The Bombay high court on Monday allowed Elgar Parishad accused P Varavara Rao, 82, to file an additional affidavit response to a report submitted by Nanavati hospital for its analysis in his plea for extension of his medical bail. The private charitable hospital had last week submitted a report to say that Rao’s vital parameters were normal. Read more
Varavara Rao Medically Stable, Must Surrender: NIA Tells Bombay HC; Medical Report Summoned
Varavara Rao Medically Stable, Must Surrender: NIA Tells Bombay High Court; Complete Medical Report Summoned
17/12/2021
Live Law / by Sharmeen Hakim
The National Investigating Agency (NIA) on Friday urged the Bombay High Court to direct Telugu poet accused in Bhima Koregaon case, Varavara Rao (82), to surrender before the prison officials after a private hospital opined he is “cognitively normal.”
However, a division bench of Justices Nitin Jamdar and Sarang Kotwal directed the private hospital to submit Rao’s complete medical examination reports and listed the matter for further consideration, on Monday. Read more
Varavara Rao health normal, says medical report submitted by NIA to Bombay HC
17/12/2021
Bar & Bench / by Neha Joshi
The National Investigation Agency on Friday submitted to the Bombay High Court a summary report of the medical examination of Bhima Koregaon-accused Varavara Rao, in his plea seeking extension of medical bail granted to him by the High Court on April 2021.
The summary stated that Rao was evaluated by multiple consultants and was suffering from minor symptoms like lack of sleep and exhaustion. Read more
Poet Varavara Rao’s medical bail extended till December 20
Poet Varavara Rao’s medical bail extended till December 20
03/12/2021
Scroll.in / by Scroll Staff
The Bombay High Court agreed for an extension after Mumbai’s Nanavati Hospital said it would require two weeks to conduct Rao’s medical examination.
Poet Varavara Rao, an accused in the Bhima Koregaon case, was granted bail extension till December 20 by the Bombay High Court on Friday, Live Law reported. Read more
Varavara Rao needn’t surrender till December 20, says Bombay HC
03/12/2021
The Indian Express / by Express News Service
Nanavati hospital seeks 2 weeks for Rao’s comprehensive medical examination.
The Bombay High Court on Friday extended the time to return to jail for Elgaar Parishad accused Varavara Rao till December 20. The extension was granted after the Nanavati Hospital informed that it needs two weeks time to schedule and conduct a comprehensive medical examination of the octogenarian for various ailments. Read more
Private Hospital Seeks Two More Weeks To Examine Varavara Rao
03/12/2021
Live Law / by Sharmeen Hakim
The private hospital asked to examine Varavara Rao, the ailing Telugu poet and accused in the Bhima Koregaon – Elgar Parishad case, sought two more weeks from the Bombay High Court owing to the numerous tests he would be required to undergo.
A division bench of Justice Nitin Jamdar and Sarang Kotwal granted Nanavati Super Specialty Hospital till December 16 to conduct the tests and submit a report to the High Court. Read more
Bombay HC Directs NIA to Get Varavara Rao Medically Examined, Submit Report
In response, NIA’s counsel Advocate Sandesh Patil issued an apology.
The Bombay High Court on Monday, 29 November, directed the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to get Bhima Koregaon accused Varavara Rao medically examined at a private hospital. Read more
Why the HC granted default bail to Sudha Bharadwaj and not to others / Understanding the Judgement (audio)
Audio: Understanding the Judgement of the Bombay High Court
01/12/2021
By PUCL
Date: Dec 1, 2021
Speakers: Mihir Desai and others
In order to understand the judgement in the Bhima Koregaon, default statutory bail case granting bail to Sudha Bharadwaj (National Secretary of the PUCL), but rejecting the bail of 8 others who had also similarly applied, namely Dr. Varavara Rao, Dr. Shoma Sen, Surendra Gadling, Vernon Gonsalves, Sudhir Dhawale, Rona Wilson, Arun Ferreira, Mahesh Raut, we are holding a meeting on December 1st, 2021 from 8pm to 10pm.
All are welcome to listen to the lawyers share their views on the judgement. V. Suresh (General Secretary PUCL ) Kavita Srivastava (National Secretary)
Listen to recording
Why the Bombay High Court granted default bail to Sudha Bharadwaj and not to others [read order]
01/12/2021
Bar & Bench / by Neha Joshi
Sudha Bharadwaj’s application for default bail was pending on the date the application for extension of time to file chargesheet was made.
While granting default bail to lawyer and activist Sudha Bharadwaj on Wednesday, the Bombay High Court refused bail to eight other co-accused in the Bhima Koregaon case.
The Bench of Justices SS Shinde and NJ Jamadar made certain interesting observations in the 120-page order while deciding the pleas filed by Bharadwaj and 8 others challenging orders of the Pune Sessions Judges. Read more/read judgement
Time For UAPA Probe Was Extended By A Court Which Lacked Competent Jurisdiction: Bombay HC [read order]
01/12/2021
Live Law / by Sharmeen Hakim
In its detailed order granting default bail to Sudha Bharadwaj the Bombay High Court said that Additional Sessions Judge of Pune KD Vadane was not authorized to extend the time for Pune Police to file the charge sheet under provision of the UAPA Act on November 26, 2018 and therefore she was entitled for default bail. Read more/read judgement
Bombay HC grants default bail to Sudha Bharadwaj, but declines the same to eight other accused
01/12/2021
The Leaflet / by Sabah Gurmaj and Paras Nath Singh
The Bombay High Court grants default bail to Sudha Bharadwaj in the Bhima Koregaon case on the ground that the court which took cognizance of the chargesheet against her was not competent, while it denied the same to the other accused in the case, because they did not claim their right to default bail in time. Paras Nath Singh and Sabah Gurmaj write about the High Court’s application of the principles of default bail in these cases. Read more
BREAKING: Bombay HC Grants Default Bail To Sudha Bharadwaj; Refuses Bail To 8 Other Accused
BREAKING: Bombay HC Grants Default Bail To Sudha Bharadwaj; Refuses Bail To 8 Other Accused
01/12/2021
Live Law / by Sharmeen Hakim
The Bombay High Court on Wednesday granted default bail to lawyer-activist Sudha Bharadwaj in the 2018 Bhima Koregaon – Elgar Parishad caste violence case.
However, the Court rejected the bail applications of the 8 other accused Sudhir Dawale, Dr P Varavara Rao, Rona Wilson, Advocate Surendra Gadling, Professor Shoma Sen, Mahesh Raut, Vernon Gonsalves and Arun Ferreira. They were arrested between June – August 2018. Read more
Sudha Bharadwaj granted default bail by Bombay High Court; plea of 8 others rejected
01/12/2021
Bar & Bench / by Neha Joshi
Sudha Bharadwaj and 8 others had challenged the jurisdiction of the Pune Sessions Judge in 2019 who they submitted was not the Special NIA judge and hence not competent to hear their applications under UAPA.
In a significant development, the Bombay High Court on Wednesday allowed the default bail plea filed by Bhima Koregaon accused advocate Sudha Bharadwaj [Sudha Bharadwaj v. National Investigation Agency]. Read more
VV Rao walks out of Hospital in March 2021. Pic: Indira Jaising
Poet Varavara Rao’s interim medical bail extended till December 6
29/11/2021
Scroll.in / by Scroll Staff
The bench extended the time for Rao to surrender as the NIA failed to get him medically examined at Mumbai’s Nanavati hospital in compliance with a court order.
Poet Varavara Rao, an accused in the Bhima Koregaon case, need not surrender to the Taloja Jail authorities until December 6, the Bombay High Court said on Monday, according to PTI. Read more
Bombay High Court directs NIA to take Varavara Rao to private hospital for medical examination
29/11/2021
Bar & Bench / by Neha Joshi
Due to confusion on who would bear the expense for Rao’s medical examination, the examination could not be completed.
The Bombay High Court on Monday directed the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to take Bhima Koregaon accused Varavara Rao to a private hospital for medical examination at the expense of the agency. Read more
Bombay High Court Asks Varavara Rao To File Fresh Petition; Extends Time To Surrender Till Dec 2
Bombay HC Asks Varavara Rao To File Fresh Petition for Extension Of Medical Bail; Extends Time To Surrender Till Dec
19/11/2021
Live Law / by Livelaw News Network
The Bombay High Court on Thursday asked Bhima Koregaon-Elgar Parishad accused P Varavara Rao to file a fresh petition to extend temporary medical bail granted to him on February 22, 2021 for six months.
The court observed that it could not modify bail conditions imposed by the previous bench, therefore, a new substantive petition would be required. The bench extended Rao’s time to surrender till December 2 in the interim. Read more
Varavara Rao’s Bail Extended till December 2
19/11/2021
Silverscreen / by Namrata Ganguly
The Bombay High Court has extended the interim bail of Varavara Rao, activist and co-accused in the Bhima Koregaon case, till December 2. This is an extension to his six-month interim bail that was granted in February…
The court will next hear the case on November 29. Read more
Poet Varavara Rao’s interim medical bail extended till December 2
18/11/2021
Scroll.in / by Scroll Staff
Owing to Rao’s ill health, his counsel had demanded a bail extension of four months.
Poet Varavara Rao, an accused in the Bhima Koregaon case, need not surrender to the Taloja Jail authorities until December 2, the Bombay High Court said on Thursday, according to PTI. Read more
Unable to pay rent, Varavara Rao to shift to an ashram-like facility behind Shah Rukh Khan’s Mannat
Telugu poet Varavara Rao, an accused in the 2018 Elgar Parishad case, told the special NIA court in Mumbai on Tuesday that he was shifting from a high society flat in Mumbai to an ashram-like facility in Bandra as he was unable to afford rent.
Advocate Niraj Yadav, appearing for Rao, said his client would shift to an ashram-like facility which is right behind actor Shah Rukh Khan’s bungalow, Mannat. Read more
