Latest news with #Navlakha
Hindustan Times
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Navlakha files plea to shift to Delhi, says living in Mumbai is ‘burdensome'
MUMBAI: Gautam Navlakha, a civil rights activist arrested in connection with the 2018 Bhima Koregaon violence case, has moved the special NIA court, seeking permission to permanently reside in Delhi. In his plea, Navlakha said it has become uneconomical and burdensome for him to live in Mumbai as he is a permanent resident of Delhi. Navlakha, who was released on bail in December 2023 and now in his 70s, is required to stay within the jurisdiction of the special NIA court trying the case, a condition made mandatory by the court while granting his bail application. In his plea, filed on April 21, Navlakha pointed out that his permanent residence, employment and social support system is in Delhi, where he lives with his partner Sahba Hussain. He stated that he and his partner were struggling to find accommodation in Mumbai for around four months due to the ongoing case. Currently, the court is hearing the discharge applications filed by all 16 accused in the case. Navlakha was one of 16 people arrested in connection with the violence that broke out at Bhima Koregaon village in Pune on January 1, 2018. This was an event to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Bhima Koregaon, in which a Dalit-dominated army fighting for the British East India Company defeated Maratha ruler Baji Rao Peshwa II. Violence broke out a day after the Elgar Parishad was held at Pune's Shaniwar Wada to mark the same battle. Several noted civil rights activists, researchers and scholars were arrested under the draconian Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, allegedly for Maoist activities that had fuelled the Bhima Koregaon violence. Navlakha, in his plea states, 'During his stay in Mumbai, the applicant-accused has been unemployed and financially dependent on friends and family to date. With time, it has become extremely difficult for him to sustain a stable lifestyle in Mumbai.' He said it was crucial for him to remain employed and financially stable since this was a long-drawn trial, which required finances. 'Prior to his arrest, the applicant-accused was an eminent journalist based in Delhi,' the plea pointed out. It added that Navlakha's 86-year-old sister has been unwell and he wished to live closer to her. In his plea, Navlakha said he would make himself available before the court and the investigating officer whenever required. While seeking the special court's permission to leave Mumbai, Navlakha added that if his plea was granted, he would continue to abide by all the bail conditions imposed by the high court and Supreme Court. The court is yet to pass an order on the plea. Meanwhile, eight of the 16 accused in the Bhima Koregaon violence case – Varavara Rao, Sudha Bharadwaj, Anand Teltumbde, Vernon Gonsalves, Arun Ferreira, Shoma Sen, Gautam Navlakha and Mahesh Raut – have been granted bail. However, Raut is still in jail as the NIA filed an appeal against his bail before the Supreme Court, which is pending.
Time of India
29-04-2025
- Time of India
Navlakha cites cash crunch & ailing sister, seeks court nod for permanent Delhi stay
MUMBAI: Citing financial strain , unemployment and an ailing 86-year-old sister, journalist Gautam Navlakha , an accused in the Elgar Parishad case , recently filed a plea before the special NIA court seeking permission to permanently reside in Delhi. Navlakha who was initially granted bail in 2023 but released from custody in 2024, currently lives in Bandra West. The plea said that the 72-year-old and his partner, Sahba Hussain, 73, are permanent residents of Delhi, where they have their home, employment, and social connections. "Over time, it has become uneconomical and burdensome for him to cope with the increasing finances. He has been struggling to meet up with the basic necessities such as house rent, bread and butter, travel, etc. Both of them are surviving out of their savings," the plea submitted through advocate Wahab Khan said. Navlakha was initially arrested in Delhi on April 14, 2020, and has been living in Mumbai since his release. The court directed the NIA to submit its reply. The plea said that Navlakha and Hussain had struggled to find accommodation in Mumbai for about four months due to his pending case. "Prior to his arrest, the applicant-accused was an eminent journalist based in Delhi. During his stay in Mumbai, the applicant-accused has been unemployed and financially dependent on friends and family to date. With time, it has become extremely difficult for him to sustain a stable lifestyle in Mumbai," the plea said. It cited Navlakha's pending personal matters in Delhi and his familiarity with the area and the city. "The applicant-accused has a long-pending trial to face which requires finances. Hence, it is crucial for him to be employed and financially stable," the petition said. Through the plea, Navlakha also assured the court he will report to the nearest police station in Delhi. "The applicant-accused shall make himself available to the investigating officer as and when required. The applicant-accused undertakes that he will make himself available and present before as and when that his absence will not cause any delay in trial or any sort of further investigation," the petition said. The NIA has alleged the Dec 31, 2017, Elgar Parishad at Shaniwarwada, Pune, was funded by Kabir Kala Manch activists and allegedly provocative speeches were made that promoted enmity between groups that eventually led to violence the following day at Bhima Koregaon.
Indian Express
29-04-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
Elgar Parishad case: Navlakha files application in court seeking permission to stay in Delhi
CITING expenses and increasing finances in Mumbai, activist-journalist Gautam Navlakha, who was granted bail in the Elgar Parishad case in May 2024, has sought permission to reside in Delhi. In an application filed before the special court in Mumbai, 72-year-old Navlakha has sought relaxation in one of his bail conditions, which directed him to not leave the jurisdiction of the Mumbai court without the court's permission. 'Prior to his arrest, the applicant-accused was an eminent journalist based in Delhi. During his stay in Mumbai, the applicant-accused has been unemployed and financially dependent on friends and family to date. With time, it has become extremely difficult for him to sustain a stable lifestyle in Mumbai,' the plea states, adding that overtime it has become 'uneconomical and burdensome' for him to cope with the increasing finances with a struggle to meet up with basic necessities such as 'house rent, bread and butter, travel, etc', as he and his 73-year-old partner, Sahba, are surviving out of their savings. Navlakha was arrested on April 14, 2020 by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and granted bail by the Bombay High Court on December 19, 2023, which was confirmed by the Supreme Court in May 2024, following which he was released. The Indian Express had reported in July 2024 that Navlakha and his partner, Sahba, who resides with him, were finding it difficult to find accommodation in Mumbai, due to the pending case. The plea filed on April 21 states that they struggled to find a place to rent for about four months. The application, filed before the court through lawyers Wahab Khan and Shifa Khan, last week, also states that previously he was permitted to travel to Delhi in November 2024 by the Mumbai court for two months with various conditions, which he had abided by. 'The applicant-accused has a long pending trial to face which requires finances. Hence, it is crucial for him to be employed and financially stable,' the plea said. It says that he undertakes to make himself available and present before the court and the investigating officer as and when required, and to ensure that his absence will not cause any delay in trial. The plea also said that his 86-year-old sister lives in Delhi and is in frail health and he wishes to reside in the same vicinity as her. The plea also states that Navlakha undertakes to not leave the jurisdiction of Delhi without prior permission of the court, except to return to Mumbai. The special court has directed the NIA to file a reply to the plea. Navlakha and 15 others were arrested in the Elgaar Parishad case where the NIA claims that the accused had links with banned organisation CPI (Maoist). The trial in the case is yet to begin. Previously, co-accused Telugu poet Varavara Rao had also similarly sought permission to live in Telangana, citing high cost of living in Mumbai. While he was permitted to travel for medical reasons, his plea for permanently moving out of Mumbai was rejected.
