Concerns about potential absconding led to the court’s refusal of Teltumbde’s travel request.
The Bombay High Court declined the request of writer and activist Anand Teltumbde to travel to Europe for a series of lectures and seminars. Teltumbde is one of the 16 individuals accused in the 2018 Bhima Koregaon case, and the court’s decision was influenced by objections raised by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). The NIA expressed apprehensions that Teltumbde might abscond if permitted to leave the country.
During the hearing, a division bench consisting of Justices Ajay Gadkari and Ranjitsinha Bhonsale indicated their reluctance to allow the travel request. Justice Gadkari suggested that Teltumbde could either opt for virtual lectures or refrain from traveling altogether. This recommendation came after Teltumbde’s counsel, Mihir Desai, argued that his client’s engagements included not just lectures but also seminars.
Despite the defense’s arguments, the judges highlighted that an NIA court had previously denied Teltumbde’s application to be discharged from the case. This ruling reinforced their concerns regarding the possibility of Teltumbde absconding. In light of the court’s stance, Desai sought permission to withdraw the petition, which was granted.
Teltumbde had received invitations to speak at several prestigious institutions, including the University of Amsterdam, where he was set to deliver a lecture on BR Ambedkar on April 14. Additionally, he had engagements lined up at Leiden University in the Netherlands on April 16, and he was invited as a scholar-in-residence at Nottingham Trent University in the UK in May. Other notable invitations included lectures at Oxford University, Edinburgh University, and University College London.
However, the NIA contended that the planned activities could be conducted online, negating the necessity for Teltumbde’s physical presence. The case in question pertains to violence that erupted in Bhima Koregaon village near Pune on January 1, 2018, following the Elgar Parishad conclave, which commemorated the 200th anniversary of a significant battle. The violence resulted in one death and numerous injuries.
Teltumbde, recognized as a Dalit rights activist, scholar, and professor, was named as an accused in August 2018 following a search of his residence at the Goa Institute of Management. The case was subsequently transferred to the NIA in January 2020. Teltumbde surrendered in April of that year after his attempts to quash the First Information Report or obtain anticipatory bail were unsuccessful. He was granted bail by the Bombay High Court in November 2022.
