The applicants,Varavara Rao, an 81 year old activist and poet and Shoma Sen, 61 year old academic have been lodged at the Taloja jail and Byculla jail respectively. They are accused of having maoist links and inciting caste based violence at the 200th anniversary of the battle of Koregaon Bhima. Bail was applied on medical grounds as both of the accused were suffering from multiple ailments or comorbidities.
The public prosecutor, Prakash Shetty submitted that special enactments like the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, does not allow undertrial prisoners to be released on temporary bail for decongestion of prisons in light of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The order was passed by Judge SE Kothalikar.
