The Supreme Court of India has granted interim bail to Jyoti Jagtap, a prominent member of the cultural group Kabir Kala Manch and an organizer of the Elgaar Parishad event. This development comes nearly five years after her initial arrest in the controversial Elgaar Parishad-Koregaon Bhima case that has drawn national attention.
Jyoti Jagtap, recognized as a singer and artist with the Pune-based Kabir Kala Manch, had been detained since September 2020. The cultural organization has been labeled as a front organization for the banned CPI-Maoist in official documents presented to the Lok Sabha.
The Legal Journey and Case Background
The legal proceedings against Jyoti Jagtap stem from events surrounding the Elgaar Parishad gathering held at Shaniwar Wada in Pune on December 31, 2017. This event was organized to mark the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Koregaon Bhima. The following day witnessed significant violence in the Koregaon Bhima area of Pune district, resulting in one fatality and multiple injuries.
Initial investigations by Pune city police led to the filing of a case at Vishrambag police station in January 2018. The case was subsequently transferred to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), which took over the probe. According to investigative agencies, the Elgaar Parishad event allegedly received financial support from CPI-Maoist, and speeches delivered during the conclave were cited as contributing factors to the subsequent violence.
Jyoti Jagtap stands among 16 individuals charged under Indian Penal Code and Unlawful Activities Prevention Act sections in this case. The NIA arrested Jyoti along with two fellow KKM artists, Ramesh Gaychor and Sagar Gorkhe, from Pune in September 2020. All three were actively involved in organizing the Elgaar Parishad under the banner of Bhima Koregaon Shauryadin Prerna Abhiyan.
KKM's History and Previous Legal Encounters
Kabir Kala Manch has a complex history that dates back to its formation following the 2002 Gujarat riots. The group initially aimed to promote social unity through cultural and musical performances. However, the organization first appeared on police radar in April 2011 when the Anti-Terrorism Squad arrested alleged CPI-Maoist leader Angela Sontakke from Thane.
In a significant development in 2013, several KKM artists including Sheetal Sathe, Sachin Mali, Gorkhe, and Gaychor surrendered to Mumbai police through a satyagraha protest accompanied by revolutionary songs. Jyoti Jagtap participated in this protest though she wasn't an accused in that particular case. The ATS chargesheet from that period alleged that accused KKM members had undergone weapons training in jungle areas of Gondia and Gadchiroli between November 2011 and April 2012.
The Supreme Court had previously granted bail to Angela Sontakke in 2016 and to Mali, Gorkhe, and Gaychor in January 2017. Following his release, Jyoti Jagtap resided in Gaychor's Pune residence in Yerwada and continued participating in KKM programs.
Recent Developments and Continuing Investigations
While the 2011 case remains pending in a Mumbai court, recent months have seen renewed investigative activity. In May of this year, the ATS arrested Prashant Kamble, a wanted KKM member who had been missing since 2010. Police investigations revealed that Kamble had allegedly been indoctrinated by Milind Teltumbde to join the armed Maoist movement.
Law enforcement recovered significant evidence from Kamble, including an Aadhaar card, PAN card, voting card, and a passport under the fake name Sunil Jagtap. These documents were allegedly procured while he worked with tribal children in Khalapur, Raigad district. Another KKM member, Santosh Shelar, who had similarly disappeared with Kamble to allegedly join the Maoist movement, was arrested in January 2024.
The NIA's press release following the 2020 arrests claimed that the three accused were propagating Maoist ideology and maintained contact with absconding accused Milind Teltumbde, a CPI-Maoist central committee member who was later killed in an encounter with Gadchiroli police in November 2021. The agency further alleged that the accused had received weapons and explosive training during visits to jungle areas.
Supporters of KKM have consistently condemned these arrests, characterizing them as attempts to shield Hindutva leaders Sambhaji Bhide and Milind Ekbote, who were named in a separate case related to the Koregaon Bhima violence filed with Pune rural police.
The Supreme Court's decision to grant interim bail to Jyoti Jagtap represents a significant development in this long-running legal saga that continues to unfold amid ongoing investigations and legal proceedings.
