Activist Gautam Navlakha walks out of prison, to stay under house arrest for one month
Mumbai, Nov 19: Gautam Navlakha, an accused in Elgar Parishad-Maoists links case, was released from prison on Saturday evening and taken to a building in Navi Mumbai where he will be living under house arrest for a month.
His release from Taloja prison in Navi Mumbai after more than two years came nine days after the Supreme Court earlier this month granted his plea seeking house arrest on medical grounds.
Navlakha, 70, walked out prison around 6 pm. A police team took him to a building in Belapur-Agroli area of Navi Mumbai where he would be staying.
Earlier in the day, judge Rajesh Katariya of the special court for National Investigation Agency (NIA) cases here issued his `release memo'.
The ground-plus-two Comrade B T Randive Building belongs to the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and houses a public library on the ground floor.
The 70-year-old activist who claims to be suffering from multiple ailments was in jail since April 2020 after his arrest in the 2017-18 case.
On November 10, the Supreme Court, in response to his application, directed that he be put under house arrest for a month with certain conditions. The order should be implemented within 48 hours, the court said.
But the NIA, which is probing the Elgar case, moved the apex court again contending that Navlakha, being a charge-sheeted accused in a case involving threat to the national security and integrity, did not deserve any relaxation.
On Friday afternoon the SC maintained its November 10 order and said he must be put under house arrest within 24 hours.
The case relates to alleged inflammatory speeches made at the 'Elgar Parishad' conclave held in Pune on December 31, 2017, which Pune police claimed triggered violence the next day near the Koregaon Bhima war memorial on the outskirts of the western Maharashtra city.
According to police, people linked to banned CPI (Maoists) had organized the programme.
The case, in which over a dozen activists and academicians have been named as accused, was later handed over to the NIA.
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Lets win the world through love, friendship: Dr. Boby Chemmanur
Mangaluru: “Wars, bombings, mass killings etc. are happening all over the world for different reasons. However, none of us will be aware of what we have achieved from this. If everyone wants to live in peace, we all have to extend the hand of friendship. So let's win the world with friendship and love,” said businessman, social worker, donor Dr. Boby Chemmanur speaking after receiving honor from the Team B-Human in a program held at Kianza Garden near Someshwara Uchila on Saturday.
Boby revealed about not visiting Mangaluru despite invitations owing to the city's bad impression he had. “However, after watching Team-B Human's social service video, my perspective about Mangaloreans changed.” In addition he also promised to help the people of this region, including my fans through a charitable trust.
Expressing gratitude, he said, “Once upon a time I used to be a man who would flaunt my wealth. After my mind transformation, I learned to love and befriend the world. I myself paid one crore rupees for the release of Abdul Rahim, a young man from Kerala who was stuck in Saudi Arabia. My Mother, who would not give money to non-christians, gave Rs. 1 Lakh and encouraged the funding. Many people have helped me to achieve my goal. I am grateful to all of them.”
Inaugurating the program, Manjeshwar MLA A.K.M. Ashraf called Kerala a model for humanity in the country. “Even though Kerala has been portrayed in a distorted way by some individuals, the real story of Kerala is known as Boche created by Dr. Boby Chemmannur. It is commendable that Team B Human has honored such social workers.” Legislative Assembly Speaker UT Khader who joined the program virtually extended his best wishes.
The program, led by Asif Deals, Founder President of Team B-Human, also felicitated Sabita Shetty, Founder Managing Trustee of Tapasya Foundation, and Hanif Puttur, General Secretary of CRDF, Puttur.
Zakaria Jokatte- Managing Director of Al Muzain Group, Sharif Bolara- Managing Director of Whitestone, Mansoor Ahmad Azad- Chairman of Hidaya Foundation, Muhammad Kunhi-Managing Director of Shanti Prakashan, Abdul Latif Gurpur- Managing Director ANI Trading Company, Muzafar Ahmed-Trustee of Team-B Human, Abdullah Monu- Administrative Director Eurogroup Qatar , KA Bawa of Deals Group, Khayyum Manya- Trustee of Abhayam Dialysis Center Kasaragod, DK District Wakf Advisory Committee Vice Chairman-AK Jamal, Sameer Kasaragod, Naveen Hegde were present during the occasion.
Siraj, President of the Mangalore unit of Team B Human, extended a warm welcome, while motivational coach Rafeeq Master and Saif Sultan, founder of Hope Foundation, moderated the program.
