The Bombay High Court on Tuesday granted bail to human rights activists Rona Wilson and Sudhir Dhawale, who had been in custody for over six and half years under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in the Bhima Koregaon case.
The duo was among 16 individuals accused of conspiring to incite violence following the Elgar Parishad event held in Pune on December 31, 2017. The event marked the bicentenary of the Bhima Koregaon battle, celebrated as a symbol of Dalit resistance. The violence occurred the following day during the anniversary celebrations.
Wilson, a member of the Committee for the Release of Political Prisoners, was arrested in June 2018. Police claimed to have found a letter on his laptop allegedly linking him to a Maoist plot to assassinate Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
However, in 2021, a forensic analysis by U.S.-based firm Arsenal Consulting revealed that the letter and other incriminating documents were planted on Wilson’s computer using malware. The findings pointed to a connection between the hacking and the Pune police, casting doubt on the evidence.
Dhawale, a writer and activist, was one of the organizers of the Elgar Parishad event. He was also arrested in 2018 on charges of sedition and conspiracy.
The activists have consistently denied the allegations, maintaining that they were targeted for their dissent and activism.
Of the 16 individuals arrested in connection with the case, only five have been granted bail to date. Among them are senior activists Varavara Rao and Sudha Bharadwaj, who were released on medical and technical grounds, respectively. Jesuit priest Stan Swamy, another accused, died in custody in July 2021, sparking outrage over the treatment of undertrials.
On the same day as the High Court’s bail order, a special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court granted interim bail to Mahesh Raut, another accused, to appear for his law exams. Raut, in custody since 2018, must surrender after the exams conclude on January 30, 2025.
Rights groups have welcomed the decision but continue to call for a thorough investigation into the alleged evidence tampering and a review of charges against all Elgar Parishad accused. Many of the remaining accused, who are yet to be released, have their bail applications or appeals against bail rejections pending in different courts.
