TISS student gets bail in Maoist literature case, court says PDFs do not prove ‘Maoist mindset’

A court on Thursday granted bail to a Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) student arrested for allegedly raising objectionable slogans and possessing Maoist literature, observing that having PDF copies of books does not establish a “Maoist mindset”.

Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Dattatray Khedekar granted bail to Abhirup Paul on execution of a personal bond of Rs 1 lakh, saying there was prima facie no incriminating material linking him to Maoist activities or a banned organisation.

“Prima facie, except suspicion there is no material to link the activities of the accused with a mindset of Maoist or against the nation or associating with a banned organization against India,” the court said.

Paul was arrested on August 7 in connection with an FIR registered by Trombay Police in October 2025.

According to the prosecution, Paul and other members of the Progressive Students Forum had gathered at the TISS campus on October 12, 2025, to commemorate the death anniversary of former Delhi University professor G N Saibaba. They allegedly raised slogans demanding the release of jailed activists Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam.

Police alleged that the slogans and other activities indicated support for Maoist activities. Investigators also claimed Paul possessed PDF documents related to cross-border Maoist organisations and had deleted mobile chat history to conceal links to “anti-national networks”.

The prosecution opposed bail, saying there was a possibility that Paul could promote Maoism or have links with Maoist organisations based in Bangladesh.

The defence argued that Paul was a young student pursuing his college curriculum.

The court noted that Paul had been interrogated for a sufficient period and that his further custody was not required. It also said keeping him behind bars merely on suspicion would not be justified, particularly given the impact on his career.