The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday arrested Ranchi-based human rights activist and Jesuit priest Stan Swamy (84) in connection with the Bhima-Koregaon violence case.
On Friday morning he was produced before the special NIA court and secured his transit remand, after which he was taken to Mumbai via flight. The NIA on Friday also submitted chargesheet in Bhima-Koregaon before special NIA court in Mumbai against eight accused namely Stan Swamy, Anand Teltumbde, Gautam Navlakha, Hany Bahu, Sagar Gorkhe, Ramesh Gaichor, Jyoti Jagtap and Milind Teltumbde. NIA has slapped section 120B, 115, 121, 121A, 124A, 153A, 201A, 505 (1) (B) and 34 of IPC besides section 13,16,17, 18, 18A, 18B, 20, 38, 39 and 40 of Unlawful Activities Prevention Act.
“Stan Swamy is CPI (Maoist) cadre and was actively involved in its activities. Stan Swamy was in communication with other CPI (Maoist) cadres. He propagated among cadres that the arrest of urban CPI (Maoist) from different parts of the country, particularly in Maharashtra has caused a huge irrevocable damage to CPI (Maoist). He received funds from other Maoist cadres for the furtherance of the activities of CPI (Maoist). He is convenor of PPSC, a frontal organization of CPI (Maoist). The incriminating documents related to communications for furthering the activities of CPI (Maoist) and propaganda material of the CPI (Maoist) as well as literature were seized from his possession,” the chargesheet reads.
On Thursday evening around 7.30 PM, a team of NIA officials reached at his office cum residence form where he was taken to NIA camp office where he was arrested after a brief questioning.
The case relates to an event organized on December 31, 2017 in Pune during Elgar Parishad organized by Kabir Kala Manch as part of bicentenary celebrations of the Bhima Koregaon battle. The celebration was marred by violence leading to the death of one person besides a number of other injured and properties damaged by a violent crowd.
Investigation pointed out a number of ‘intellectuals’ oriented to left wing and ultra-left wing ideology had delivered highly inflammatory speeches and provocative statements that triggered violence. Investigation further revealed an alleged plot to assassinate Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Maharashtra police investigating the case subsequently filed two chargesheets on November 15, 2018 and February 21, 2019 respectively. Later on, the NIA took up the investigation of the case.
Swamy is the sixteenth person to be arrested by the investigating agency in this case. Earlier the NIA had raided the house cum office of Swamy in Ranchi on 28 August 2018 and 12 June 2019. In August he was questioned by NIA for more than 15 hours about his involvement in Bhima--Koregaon violence and his association with banned CPI (Maoist). He denied allegations. NIA had recently summoned him to appear for questioning at the Mumbai office of NIA. But Swamy citing health issues and Covid-19 pandemic expressed his inability to visit Mumbai. But Swamy was certain that his arrest is just a matter of time and the NIA is set to establish his links with CPI (Maoist) and Bhima-Koregaon incident.
Different tribal outfits observed protests against his arrest saying the NIA arrested an innocent man for standing for human and tribal rights.
“He is suffering from cancer. The NIA arrested him without informing the state government. Why didn't the State Government intervene in this matter?” asked activist Ratan Tirkey.