Mumbai: On January 24, 2025, researcher Rona Wilson and activist Sudhir Dhawale were released on bail from Taloja Jail in Navi Mumbai, more than 6 years after their arrest in connection with the Elgar Parishad-Maoist links case.
The duo walked out of the prison around 1:30 pm after completing bail formalities, following a decision by the Bombay High Court.
The High Court had granted bail to Wilson and Dhawale on January 8, 2025, citing their prolonged detention since 2018 and the delay in the start of their trial. The court noted that the charges in the case, where the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) had been invoked, had not yet been framed, and the trial was unlikely to conclude in the near future.
“They have been in jail since 2018. Even the charges are yet to be framed, and the prosecution has cited over 300 witnesses,” the High Court observed.
Elgar Parishad-Maoist Links Case
Wilson and Dhawale are accused in the high-profile Elgar Parishad-Maoist links case, which relates to inflammatory speeches allegedly delivered at the Elgar Parishad conclave held in Pune on December 31, 2017. These speeches are said to have incited violence at the Koregaon-Bhima village the following day. Pune police had initially claimed that the conclave was supported by Maoists, and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) later took over the investigation.
Along with Wilson and Dhawale, 14 other activists and academicians were arrested in the case. Of these, eight — including Varavara Rao, Sudha Bharadwaj, Anand Teltumbde, Vernon Gonsalves, Arun Ferreira, Shoma Sen, Gautam Navlakha, and Mahesh Raut — have been granted bail so far. Raut remains in jail as the NIA’s appeal against his bail is still pending before the Supreme Court.
Among the accused, Jesuit priest and activist Stan Swamy passed away in 2021 while still in judicial custody.
Wilson and Dhawale’s release comes after a lengthy legal battle, as their trial has faced significant delays. Despite their release, the case remains ongoing, and the charges against them are yet to be finalized.