NIA Moves to Revoke Bail of Activists Varavara Rao and Sudha Bharadwaj in Bhima Koregaon Case

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has taken legal steps to request the cancellation of bail for activists Varavara Rao and Sudha Bharadwaj, who are implicated in the ongoing Bhima Koregaon case. This move comes after the agency filed an application in a special court located in Mumbai, as reported on Friday.

Varavara Rao, an elderly activist who was granted interim medical bail by the Bombay High Court in February 2021, had his bail order upheld by the Supreme Court in August 2022. In a similar vein, Sudha Bharadwaj was awarded default bail in December 2021 when the NIA failed to file a chargesheet within the mandated 90-day period. These bail grants have now come under scrutiny as the NIA asserts that both activists have violated the terms set by the court.

The NIA’s application cites an event on January 19, where Rao and Bharadwaj, along with other accused individuals, allegedly gathered at the Mumbai Press Club. The agency claims this meeting was organized with the aim of promoting the ideologies associated with the banned group, Communist Party of India (Maoist), and was intended to discuss strategies for advancing the ‘Urban Naxal’ movement. As per the conditions of their bail, both Rao and Bharadwaj were explicitly prohibited from interacting with other accused parties.

This latest development adds another layer to the ongoing legal battle surrounding the Bhima Koregaon case, which has drawn significant attention and controversy since it erupted in 2018. The case revolves around an incident of violence that broke out during a commemoration event in Bhima Koregaon, Maharashtra, which has been linked to broader issues of caste conflict and political dissent in India.

In the context of India’s political landscape, the Bhima Koregaon case has sparked discussions on civil liberties and the treatment of dissenters, with critics alleging that the government is targeting activists for their political beliefs. As the NIA’s application to revoke the bail is presented in court, Rao and Bharadwaj have been directed to respond, setting the stage for what could be another contentious chapter in this high-profile case.

Source: scroll.in