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—the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday 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.
Allegations of Violating Bail Conditions
The NIA alleged that along with other co-accused, they violated court-imposed restrictions over being in contact with each other by participating in a gathering at a south Mumbai venue on January 19. It alleged that the meeting was organised to propagate the ideology of the banned CPI (Maoist) and deliberate on the future course of the “Urban Naxal” movement, which the prosecution claimed poses a direct threat to national security.
Next Hearing and Evidence
The matter will come up for hearing on June 19. The accused have to submit their replies to the NIA’s plea. Once the court hears arguments from both special public prosecutor Prakash Shetty and the defence, an order will be pronounced. The NIA cited digital evidence and internal reports from the venue. It also submitted an inquiry committee report from the venue, along with CCTV footage and call data records (CDR) to establish the presence of Ferreira, Gonsalves, and other accused—Bharadwaj, Rao, Anand Teltumbde, Rona Wilson, Sudhir Dhawale, Hany Babu and Gautam Navlakha. The NIA alleged that the CDR showed their phones at the same venue during the time.
Proclamation Against Absconding Accused
Following a plea by the prosecution on the grounds of “interest of justice”, the court issued a proclamation against two absconding accused—Prakash alias Naveen alias Ritupan Goswami and Ganapathy alias Mupalla Laxman Rao.
Background of the Elgar Parishad Case
Invoking the stringent anti-terror law Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), the NIA has alleged that the Elgar Parishad event on December 31, 2017, at Shaniwarwada in Pune was funded by activists of Kabir Kala Manch. It alleged that provocative speeches were made at the event, which promoted enmity between groups and eventually led to violence the following day at Koregaon Bhima.
Of the 16 arrested, 14 have been released from jail, while Father Stan Swamy died in custody in 2021. On May 4, the Bombay High Court granted bail to advocate Surendra Gadling. However, his bail plea in another case is pending, delaying his release.
