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Activists arrests: Bombay High Court slams Maharashtra police for presser on sub-judice case

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8 years ago

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Activists arrests: Bombay High Court slams Maharashtra police for presser on sub-judice case

The Bombay High Court on Monday, September 3, pulled up Maharashtra Police for holding a press conference on the arrest of activists in Bhima Koragaon case while the matter is sub-judice.

The court was hearing one Satish Gaikwad’s plea seeking an NIA investigation into Elgar Parishad, an event where – according to an FIR – activists allegedly made provocative speeches which led to violence at Bhima Koregaon on January 1.

Gaikwad’s lawyer, Nitin Satpute, told the court that on one hand, the Maharashtra Police talked about making the trial in-camera, and gave press conferences on the other, elaborating on the evidence it claims to have gathered.

The court was surprised: “They held a press conference?”

The court said how can the police hold a press conference when the case is subjudice.

The petitioner told the court that the police on one hand want an in camera hearing while on the other are reading out evidence in the form of the activists’ letters in public. The petitioner wants the case to be handed over to the NIA or the National Investigative Agency.

The petition by Satish Gaikwad, filed through Advocate Nitin Satpute, alleges that the Pune police had come up with a new story that the violence was instigated by the Elgar Parishad organisers. It said the police put forward this claim despite registering an FIR and arresting prime accused Milind Ekbote, who is currently in judicial custody.

The plea said intellectuals and lawyers are being arrested on the whims and fancies of the Pune police. It sought a transfer of the investigation from the Vishrambaug police station to the NIA, and a stay on the FIR that led to the arrests of activists Surendra Gadling, Dr. Shoma Sen, Rona Wilson and Sudhir Dhawale. The police had no right to probe the case under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, the petition said.

The Maharashtra police on August 28 also arrested poet and Maoist ideologue Varavara Rao, lawyer Sudha Bharadwaj, activists Arun Fereira, Gautam Navlakha and Vernon Gonsalves. The matter went to Supreme Court which restrained police from taking them away to Maharashtra in their custody and ordered that they be kept under house arrest till September 6, the next date when the apex court will hear the matter.

Facing criticism on the raids and arrests targeting rights activists, the Maharashtra police had claimed it had solid evidence including “thousands of documents and letters” that established the activists’ links to Maoists and their role in facilitating weapons and funding.

Lawyer and activist Sudha Bharadwaj, who is also under house arrest, said that one of the letters mentioned by the police is fabricated. “It is a totally concocted letter fabricated to criminalize me and other human rights lawyers, activists and organisations,” she said in hand-written statement shared through her lawyer Vrinda Grover.

The Bombay High court has adjourned the hearing on the petition demanding NIA inquiry in Elgar Parishad matter for 7th September because copies of the petition were not served to all concerned persons.

On Friday, the Additional Directorate General of Maharashtra Police defended the arrests of Left-wing activists, saying that those arrested had links with the outlawed Communist Party of India (Maoist) and the police had confiscated documents in April and June establishing links with the Naxal group.

ADG Parambir Singh said that a letter was recovered from Rona Wilson, which was written to one Comrade Prakash, proposing a “Rajiv Gandhi-like incident” to end the “Modi Raj”.

The ADG claimed that the letter read, “I hope you have received details of a requirement of Rs. 8 crores for the annual supply of grenade launchers. Comrade Kishan and others have proposed steps to end Modi raj, like Rajiv Gandhi incident.”

Singh said that the arrests, on August 28, were made after a thorough investigation into the case.

Serious doubts have been raised about the authenticity of the alleged letter and noted journalist Prem Shankar Jha had pointed to several discrepancies and errors, indicating it could not have been written by Maoists.

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Asish Banerjee found dead in Rampurhat, Mamata Banerjee aide’s death shocks TMC

Former West Bengal deputy speaker and five-time Rampurhat MLA Asish Banerjee was found dead at a Trinamool Congress office in Birbhum.

Published

4 hours ago

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August 16, 2026

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Mamata Banerjee

Former West Bengal Assembly deputy speaker and Trinamool Congress leader Asish Banerjee was found dead at a party office next to his residence in Rampurhat, Birbhum district, on Sunday morning.

Police said his body was found hanging and was sent for postmortem. A large crowd gathered outside the Trinamool Congress office after news of his death spread.

Who was Asish Banerjee?

Asish Banerjee had served as the deputy speaker of the West Bengal Assembly when Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee was the state’s chief minister. He was also a five-time MLA from Rampurhat.

He had served as Bengal’s education and agriculture minister after Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress first came to power in the state.

Banerjee contested the West Bengal Assembly election earlier this year but lost the Rampurhat seat to BJP’s Dhruba Saha.

Asish Banerjee’s recent party role

Banerjee stepped down as chairman of the Trinamool Congress’s Birbhum district core committee in June. At the time, he said he would continue as a general member of the party.

He lived in the Hattalapara neighbourhood of Rampurhat, with the party office where his body was found located next to his house.

BJP gains in Birbhum

The BJP won six of the 11 Assembly constituencies in Birbhum in the latest state election. This marked a significant change from 2021, when the Trinamool Congress had won 10 seats in the district while the BJP had secured one.

Police have sent Asish Banerjee’s body for postmortem as the circumstances surrounding his death are being investigated.

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IPS Officer Nupur Prasad gets Medal for Meritorious Service after Sushant Singh Rajput probe

IPS officer Nupur Prasad, who led the CBI investigation into Sushant Singh Rajput’s death, has been selected for the Medal for Meritorious Service this year.

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1 day ago

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August 15, 2026

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IPS officer Nupur Prasad, who led the CBI investigation into actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s death, has been recognised with the Medal for Meritorious Service (MSM) this year.

A 2007-batch AGMUT cadre officer, Ms Prasad recently returned to the Delhi Police after completing her tenure with the CBI. She is currently serving as Joint Commissioner of Police in the Economic Offences Wing (EOW), where she oversees investigations involving financial and economic crimes.

The award is part of this year’s recognition for police personnel for distinguished and meritorious service. Such honours recognise contributions in areas including investigation, crime prevention, public service, law and order and administration.

Nupur Prasad’s role in Sushant Singh Rajput case

Ms Prasad came into national focus during the CBI investigation into the death of Sushant Singh Rajput, who was found dead at his Mumbai residence on June 14, 2020.

The case was transferred to the CBI in August 2020 following a complaint by the actor’s family and a legal dispute over jurisdiction.

During her tenure with the agency, Ms Prasad supervised key aspects of the investigation, including the examination of witness statements, forensic evidence and medical records.

In 2025, the CBI filed closure reports, saying its investigation found no evidence of foul play, abetment to suicide or criminal conspiracy in the actor’s death.

Career across Delhi Police, CBI

Ms Prasad has served in several positions during her career, including assignments in the Delhi Police, CBI, Arunachal Pradesh and West Bengal.

Before joining the CBI, she held senior positions in the Delhi Police and became the first Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) of Shahdara. During her tenure, she worked on establishing the district’s policing framework following its creation.

She also led operations targeting drug networks and illegal gambling activities while focusing on crime-prevention measures.

Later, as DCP of North Delhi, she oversaw security arrangements for major events, including Independence Day celebrations at the Red Fort and Delhi University elections.

Community-focused policing initiatives

Beyond investigations, Ms Prasad has been associated with community-focused programmes involving women’s self-defence, youth development, cyber safety and drug de-addiction.

During her CBI tenure, she was also associated with several prominent investigations. Media reports have linked her to cases concerning businessman Vijay Mallya and the AgustaWestland helicopter deal.

Current role in Delhi Police

After completing her assignment with the CBI, Ms Prasad returned to the Delhi Police and took charge as Joint Commissioner of Police in the Economic Offences Wing.

The latest recognition adds to her career spanning investigations, policing and public service across several challenging assignments.

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Kharge, Rahul Gandhi skip Independence Day event for 2nd straight year

Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi skipped the 80th Independence Day celebrations at the Red Fort for the second consecutive year.

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1 day ago

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August 15, 2026

By

Rahul Kharge

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi skipped the 80th Independence Day celebrations at Delhi’s Red Fort for the second consecutive year.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the Independence Day celebrations at the historic venue on Saturday.

The absence of the two senior Congress leaders comes amid strained relations between the ruling party and the Opposition, which further deteriorated during the Monsoon Session of Parliament that concluded on Thursday.

2024 seating controversy

Rahul Gandhi had attended the Independence Day celebrations in 2024 but his seating arrangement triggered a controversy. The Congress leader, who holds the status of a Cabinet minister as Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, was seated in the second-last row during the ceremony at the Red Fort.

The Opposition had criticised the seating arrangement, calling it an insult to the people. The Defence Ministry, which organised the event, said the arrangement had been modified to accommodate Olympians at the venue.

According to protocol, the Leader of the Opposition is seated in the front row during ceremonial events.

Opposition-ruling party tensions

Relations between the government and the Opposition remained tense during the Monsoon Session, which ended on Thursday.

The session saw repeated clashes between the two sides, with both the Opposition and the ruling party blaming each other for the low productivity of Parliament.

The session began on July 20, with students marching towards Parliament on the first day. Twelve bills were passed during the session, while detailed discussion took place on only one legislation, concerning paper leaks.

The Congress, along with the Trinamool Congress and Samajwadi Party, also boycotted the customary tea party hosted by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla after the House was adjourned sine die.

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