Bhima Koregaon case: Activists Rona Wilson, Sudhir Dhawale released from jail

Activists Rona Wilson and Sudhir Dhawale were released from jail in Navi Mumbai on Friday, more than two weeks after the Bombay High Court granted them bail in the Bhima Koregaon case, PTI reported.

The High Court granted them bail on January 8, stating that the activists had been in jail since 2018 and “there is no possibility of the trial to conclude in the near future”.

Dhawale is the founder of the Dalit rights organisation Republican Panthers. He is also a well-known poet, political commentator and publisher of the Left-leaning Marathi magazine Vidrohi.

Wilson is an activist from Kerala and one of the founding members of the Committee for the Release of Political Prisoners.

They were among 16 academicians, activists and lawyers who were charged under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act for their alleged role in instigating caste violence at Bhima Koregaon near Pune in January 2018. They were also accused of having links with the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist).

Wilson and Dhawale walked out of the Taloja jail around 1.30 pm after completing bail formalities before a special National Investigation Agency court presiding over the case, reported PTI.

The High Court had asked them to furnish a surety of Rs 1 lakh as a condition for bail. They were also restricted from travelling outside Mumbai without court permission…

Read more