New Delhi, February 19: Prominent senior Indian journalist and human rights activist Gautam Navlakha has reaffirmed that he stands firmly by his writings, including his work on Kashmir, stating that his views are based on empirical evidence and honest analysis despite years of incarceration in the Elgar Parishad-Bhima Koregaon case. Interview with Indian Express Navlakha, 73, said he has no regrets about his writings on the Maoist movement and Kashmir, emphasizing that he has always provided a factual and reasoned basis for his opinions. Expressing happiness over his return to Delhi after nearly six years in custody and house arrest, he said his immediate focus is on settling back home and managing his health, adding, “My journey begins now. Let’s see how it goes.”
Navlakha returned to his Delhi residence after the Bombay High Court relaxed his bail conditions and permitted him to leave Mumbai. He had spent four years in jail and under house arrest after his arrest in the case, which was initially investigated by Pune Police and later transferred to the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
The Bhima Koregaon case concerns allegations of a conspiracy to incite caste violence and overthrow the government. The accused, comprising activists and lawyers, are collectively referred to as the “BK-16”.
Navlakha expressed concern over what he termed the broader implications of prolonged incarceration under stringent laws. Referring to the cases of Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam, who have been jailed for nearly six years in the Delhi riots conspiracy case under the draconian Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), Navlakha said he felt “very outraged and sad” over delays in the commencement of trial proceedings.
“To put any person behind bars without a free and fair trial and to keep them there for years together… I find it an abomination. It ought to be unacceptable in any civilised society,” he said, stressing the legal principle of presumption of innocence.
In his own case, the FIR was registered in 2018 and the chargesheet filed in 2020. However, formal framing of charges, required for the trial to begin, is yet to take place.
Navlakha said the years in custody had taken a physical toll on several accused, mentioning the late Father Stan Swamy, who died in custody; Hany Babu, who suffered a serious eye infection; and poet P. Varavara Rao, who contracted Covid-19 and sustained head injuries following a fall. Navlakha himself said he has developed high blood pressure and is on daily medication.
He described inadequate medical facilities and poor nutritional quality of prison food as among the most difficult aspects of incarceration. Recalling his time at Taloja Central Jail in Mumbai, where he was lodged in a high-security cell, Navlakha said he observed large quantities of discarded food being removed daily. He termed the situation “disturbing” for a State-run facility.