Elgar Parishad Case: Court Rejects NIA Plea To Cancel Bail Of Four Accused

A Special NIA Court in Mumbai has rejected the National Investigation Agency’s plea to cancel the bail of four accused in the Elgar Parishad case over their presence at a Mumbai Press Club gathering in January 2026. The court held that the agency failed to produce sufficient evidence establishing a violation of their bail conditions.

The four accused are Sudha Bharadwaj, Arun Ferreira, Vernon Gonsalves and P Varavara Rao. The NIA alleged that they attended a January 19 gathering intended to propagate the ideology of the banned CPI (Maoist) and discuss the future course of the alleged “Urban Naxal” movement.

The agency relied on an inquiry report from the Mumbai Press Club and CCTV footage, claiming the activists breached bail conditions restricting communication with co accused or people involved in similar activities. It also sought their immediate arrest.

The activists, however, said they had not organised the gathering or invited other accused. They claimed discussions included prison life, Gautam Navlakha’s future after moving to Delhi, and the case, release prospects and health condition of co accused Surendra Gadling.

Special Judge Chakor S Baviskar noted that the CCTV footage confirmed the presence of the accused but contained no audio. It therefore could not establish what conversations took place. The court also observed that the footage did not support the allegation that the activists were discussing Maoist ideology or planning similar activities.

The court held that mere interaction between co accused does not automatically constitute a bail violation. Even discussing their cases or personal well being would not by itself breach bail conditions, which are intended to prevent involvement in similar alleged offences.

The judge said bail cancellation requires “very cogent and overwhelming circumstances”, such as interference with justice, abuse of bail or a likelihood of absconding.

While rejecting the NIA pleas, the court cautioned the four accused to exercise greater care and avoid situations that could lead to allegations of violating their bail conditions.

The Elgar Parishad case stems from the December 31, 2017 conclave in Pune, followed by violence near Koregaon Bhima on January 1, 2018. The NIA later took over the probe. The trial is yet to begin.