HC extends relief from arrest to Teltumbde

The activist has sought anticipatory bail in Bhima-Koregaon violence case

Prof. Anand Teltumbde, a well-known champion of India’s lower castes who has been accused of plotting against the government, in Prabhadevi, Mumbai, India, Feb. 13, 2019. Teltumbde is one of several intellectuals accused of plotting against the government. Noam Chomsky, Cornel West and others have rallied to his defense. “I cannot describe the humiliation,� Teltumbde said. (Prarthna Singh/The New York Times)

The Bombay High Court on Tuesday extended protection from arrest to academic-activist Anand Teltumbde in the Bhima-Koregaon violence case till March 22.

A single-judge Bench of Justice P.N Deshmukh was hearing a petition filed by Mr. Teltumbde seeking anticipatory bail.

On February 11, another Bench not only extended his protection from arrest till February 22, but also directed the Pune Police to release him on ₹1lakh personal bond if they arrest him.

On February 5, the Pune police had informed another Bench that they would not arrest Mr. Teltumbde till February 12 midnight. The court had directed Additional Public Prosecutor Aruna Kamat Pai, appearing for the Pune Police, to give an undertaking as a precondition to secure time to file an affidavit opposing the petition.

The affidavit contained the same reasons Ms. Kamat Pai had mentioned in the last hearing, of “incriminating evidence” against Mr. Teltumbde and the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act.