Published Aug 30, 2026 | 4:42 PM ⚊ Updated Aug 30, 2026 | 4:42 PM
Varavara Rao, Telugu poet and activist. (Credits: Wikimeda Commons)
Synopsis: A special NIA court in Mumbai has refused the agency’s plea to cancel the bail of Elgar Parishad accused Varavara Rao, Sudha Bharadwaj, Arun Ferreira and Vernon Gonsalves after the four were seen together at a Mumbai Press Club gathering. The agency argued that their presence together breached a bail condition. The court said routine encounters between co-accused do not by themselves breach bail conditions.
A special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in Mumbai has refused the agency’s plea to send Telugu poet and activist Varavara Rao, lawyer Sudha Bharadwaj and activists Arun Ferreira and Vernon Gonsalves back to jail for allegedly violating their bail conditions.
Special Judge Chakor Baviskar, in four separate orders passed on Saturday, 29 August, found no material to show that the four had met to plan offences similar to those for which they are accused or to promote Maoist ideology.
The NIA had approached the court after the four were seen together at a gathering at the Mumbai Press Club on 19 January.
The agency argued that their presence together breached a bail condition prohibiting contact between co-accused. It alleged that the gathering was intended to discuss the future course of the “urban Naxal” movement.
The court rejected that contention. It noted that there was nothing on record to show that the four had organised the gathering or had been in contact with one another either before or after the event.
The court also observed that routine encounters between co-accused, including at court hearings, would not by themselves constitute a breach of bail conditions.
The judge also considered video footage of the Press Club event that had been submitted to the court without audio. The footage did not indicate that any serious ideological discussions had taken place, the court said.
Also Read: Warangal: Centre of dissent and citadel of defiance
The court advised the four accused to avoid such gatherings in future to prevent further legal complications.
The Elgar Parishad case arises from the violence at Bhima Koregaon on 1 January 2018. The case was initially investigated by the Pune police before the NIA took over the probe in 2020.
The accused have challenged the evidence relied upon against them, including forensic claims concerning material allegedly recovered from their electronic devices.
(With inputs from Sreshta Ladegaam)
