Activist Varavara Rao's bail plea rejected
Pune, Apr 29: A special court here Monday rejected the temporary bail application of activist and poet P Varavara Rao who is currently lodged in a prison here.
Rao wanted temporary bail to visit his hometown to perform post-death rituals of his sister-in-law who died on April 22.
However, the prosecution, objecting to the temporary bail to Rao, cited a letter to Pune's Joint Commissioner of Police by Hyderabad Superintendent of Police (Special Intelligence Branch) which stated, "Considering seriousness of the crime, there is a possibility that accused may abscond if he is allowed to attend the last rites of his relative".
"Moreover, there is a possibility of a serious attack on the police party, who will be deputed for an escort, by Naxals," the letter added.
The prosecution also informed the court that the letter stated that as per Hindu traditions and customs, there is no established procedure and norms to attend "pedda karma" (10th-day ritual) by the brother-in-law of a deceased who is survived by her children.
After hearing the arguments and going through the written submissions from the prosecution, judge Vadane Monday rejected the temporary bail application.
Rao was first arrested on August 28 last year in connection with the Elgar Parishad case along with activists Sudha Bhardwaj, Arun Ferreira, Vernon Gonsalves and Gautam Navalakha.
However, the Supreme Court later asked the police to place them under house arrest.
On November 17, Rao was re-arrested by Pune police.
The prosecution, in its submission, said the accused is an active member of the proscribed CPI (Maoist) and along with other accused, was involved in unlawful and terrorist activities, and that investigation so far had revealed that he was involved in raising and distributing funds to smuggle arms and ammunition.
"There is ample of evidence against the accused and the charge sheet too has been filed and therefore it is not desirable to release the accused on temporary bail," according to the prosecution.
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Priyanka Gandhi to visit Assam on Feb 18, will meet with party officials
Guwahati (PTI): Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is scheduled to visit Assam on a two-day trip starting February 18 to take part in a series of party meetings ahead of state assembly elections, a state leader said on Sunday.
Vadra, a Congress general secretary and parliamentarian, is the chairperson of the party's screening committee for the upcoming Assam assembly elections.
State Congress general secretary (organisation) Bipul Gogoi said in a statement that Vadra will hold a series of meetings with different office bearers of the Congress during the two days.
She will be holding separate meetings with the political affairs committee, MLAs, district presidents, frontal group heads, legislature party leader, working presidents, MPs, different cell heads and booth committee chiefs, among others.
Vadra will leave for Delhi on the evening of February 19, Gogoi said.
The Assam Assembly elections for 126 constituencies are likely to take place in March-April this year, and the Congress is looking to contest the polls in an alliance with several other opposition parties.
Imran Masood and Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka, both Lok Sabha MPs, along with Sirivella Prasad, are the members of the screening committee.
Presently, the ruling BJP's strength in the 126-member Assam Assembly is 64, while its allies AGP has nine MLAs, UPPL has seven, and BPF has three members.
In the opposition camp, the Congress has 26 members, AIUDF 15 and CPI(M) has one MLA. There is one Independent legislator also.
