www.courtkutchehry.com YOUTUBE VIDEOS- VARAVARA RAO, COVID 19 & HIS BAIL APPLICATION
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TOPIC
VARAVARA RAO, COVID 19 & HIS BAIL APPLICATION
Brief Facts
Varavara Rao has been behind bars for almost 2 years. He has been accused of
inciting caste-based violence at Bhima Koregaon/ Elgar Parishad on January 1,
2018. He (and 10 other activists/academics) were arrested in 2018. So far, the
police have filed chargesheets against nine persons, including Rao. As per the
NIA the case is at the stage of framing of charges. But, because of the pandemic
and the ensuing lockdown, the process of framing of charges has been deferred.
Recently the investigation was transferred from the Pune Police to the National
Investigating Agency (NIA). This transfer has also been challenged before the
Bombay High Court by two of the accused
It has alleged that
the event was organised by Maoists with the aim of “spreading rebellious
thoughts” however 2 Retired judges Justices BG Kolse-Patil and PB Sawant openly
say they were the main organisers. These 2 retired Judges, One from the HC, One
retired from the Hon’ble SC have stated that These activists have been falsely
implicated.
Those arrested were
also accused of plotting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s assassination. This
claim has somehow never been investigated nor has it been made a part of the
chargesheets filed in the case
Newslaundry - Why
the #PlotToKillPM
seems quite dubious
Rao is a
81-year-old Telugu poet, literary critic & activist. He has recently tested
positive for COVID-19. His lawyers have filed multiple bail applications on
medical grounds but they’ve all been rejected so far. He was also arrested
during the 1975 Emergency under the Maintenance of internal Security Act (MISA)
on charges of inciting violence through his writing.
A press release was
issued by his family with the subject “Don’t kill Varavara Rao in jail.”
According to his family, he’s been extremely sick for a few months and he’s
even been hallucinating. His family demanded directions to the hospital
administration or prison administration to provide transparent & official
updates on his health. Further, 146 Academics & Activists From all over the
globe have Demand his Release.
On Monday i.e. 20th
July the Hon’ble Bombay High Court enquired about the condition of his health.
The Hon’ble Court also asked the NIA whether his family could be allowed to see
him "from a reasonable distance" (as sought by them in their plea)
Rao had filed two petitions in the high court.
One was to direct
the state to produce all his medical reports from the government-run Hospital,
where he was admitted after he fell and hurt his head. His lawyer alleged that
his family was never informed and they only found out through media reports.
Bar & Bench He pleaded that not sharing health updates of an undertrial who
is judicial custody is "inhuman, unconstitutional, and illegal."
The other sought
bail on health grounds. His lawyer told the court that he was almost on his
deathbed. Varavara Rao is a communist, activist, Naxalite sympathiser, renowned
poet, journalist, literary critic, and public speaker from Telangana, India. He
has been writing poetry since 1957. He is considered as one of the best Marxist
critics in Telugu literature and taught Telugu literature to graduate and
undergraduate students for about 40 years. He is known as an orator and had
addressed thousands of public gatherings. He founded Srujana, a forum for
modern literature in Telugu, in 1966 as a quarterly and later turned it into a
monthly and successfully brought it out till 1992. virasamHe was one of the
founders of Viplava Rachayitala Sangahm (Revolutionary Writers' Association),
popularly known by its acronym Virasam, that supports and propagates Naxalite
ideology and practice. He was associated with many a progressive and
revolutionary journal in Telugu.
Livemint - Roa’s
Prison Diaries- “What if one is found not guilty? Leaving aside the loss of
health, family and other material comforts, who will compensate for the freedom
and the time lost?" It’s a question that should haunt the Indian state and
judicial system—as well as other nations of the world where political prisoners
languish without remedy—for time to come.
However, an
affidavit was filed by the National Investigating Agency opposing his interim
bail. It was filed in the High Court on July 16. On July 18 Rao tested positive
for COVID-19.
(NIA) has opposed
the interim bail plea filed by Varavara Rao in the Bombay High Court. NIA
stated that The charges against Rao and his co-accused are of grave nature.
They are not eligible for interim bail as provisions of the Unlawful Activities
(Prevention) Act prescribe punishment for seven years.
Rao had moved the
Hon’ble Bombay High Court against the decision of the Special NIA Court which
had rejected his interim bail application. He had the cited his old age &
vulnerability to COVID-19 as grounds for seeking bail.
NDOH is Thursday.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
BAIL OR NO BAIL
Presented by
The-Brief Sanam Siddiqui
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