No Grounds to Accuse, Supreme Court Says Granting Bail to Activist Shoma Sen
The Supreme Court has granted bail to Shoma Kanti Sen, a former Nagpur University professor who was arrested nearly six years ago under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). Her case highlights significant concerns regarding the application of the UAPA, which is designed to combat terrorism and unlawful activities but has been criticised for its stringent provisions allowing for prolonged detention of individuals without trial.
Investigation Agency Asks Human Rights Activist to Pay for His House Arrest
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) of India has told the Supreme Court that Gautam Navlakha, a human rights activist arrested in August 2018 in connection with the Bhima Koregaon case, must pay 16.4 million rupees for his house arrest expenses, as reported by Scroll.in.
Court Acquits Professor, Student, Journalist and Others in UAPA Case
A former Delhi University professor and five others, including a journalist and a student of Jawaharlal Nehru University in Delhi, were acquitted by the Bombay High Court on March 5 in a case linking them to Maoist activities, according to media reports. The verdict came after a prolonged legal battle that highlighted significant procedural and evidentiary issues related to the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
Kashmiri Journalist Rearrested Days After Release
A Kashmiri journalist, Aasif Sultan, has been rearrested under the stringent “anti-terror” law, merely days after his release from over five years of incarceration, according to media reports. Sultan, 36, a former editor of the now-defunct Kashmir Narrator magazine, found himself back in custody facing charges related to a 2019 case of violence within Srinagar’s central jail.
Supreme Court’s Oversight on UAPA & PMLA Misuse Questioned
Senior Advocate Mihir Desai voices concerns over the Supreme Court’s hesitation to acknowledge the misuse of laws such as the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), focusing on the Supreme Court’s recent trends in cases involving civil liberties and political rights.