[dropcap]S[/dropcap]pecial judge K D Vadane of Pune Court has today rejected the bail applications filed by human rights activists Sudha Bharadwaj, Vernon Gonsalves and Arun Ferreria. They were arrested by the Pune police on August 28, 2018 in connection with their alleged involvement in an event namely “Elgaar Parishad” that led to the violence in Bhima Koregaon on January 2018. Pune police then booked them under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 alleging that they were active members of banned organisation CPI (Maoist).

Earlier the Supreme Court had extended their house arrest by four weeks, deadline thereof has come to an end today.

Counsel for the accused submitted before the Pune Special Court that the material collected by Investigating Officer is false, bogus and fabricated, and having no evidentiary value. The Court, however, negated this contention of the accused saying whether material collected by the Police is fabricated or false is a matter of evidence. Prima facie it is revealed from the material collected that accused persons had involvement. The Court noted that investigation is at very crucial stage, and thus accused are not entitled to be released on bail.

Read the order.

[pdfviewer]https://cdn.theleaflet.in/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/26100016/Bail-order.pdf[/pdfviewer]