Dalit Scholar Anand Teltumbde Arrested From Mumbai Airport

MUMBAI: Despite the four weeks given by the Supreme Court to scholar and professor Anand Teltumbde, the Pune city police arrested him in the Elgaar Parishad case and alleged links with the banned CPI-Maoist.

A special court in Pune had rejected Teltumbde;s anticipatory bail application, according to reports. He was then arrested from the airport in Mumbai between 3-4am Saturday morning. Activists claimed that he had arrived in Mumbai from Kochi to seek anticipatory bail.

Senior advocate Indira Jaising tweeted, “Dr Anand Teltumbde arrested at 330am at Mumbai airport by Pune Police in Gross violation of SC order giving him protection from arrest till 11th February , this is contempt of the order of the Supreme Court of India #ReleaseDrAnandTeltumbde immediately.”

The Dalit scholars lawyer Rohan Nahar pointed out that he had been provided protection from arrest till February 11. "The Supreme Court in its January 11th order had given Anand Teltumbde a relief of four weeks which means he could not be arrested till February 11th, but still the arrest has been made. Will also inform the court about this order," he said.

The Additional sessions judge at the Pune Sessions Court Kishor Vadane while denying bail had stated on Friday, “ in my view, there is sufficient material collected by the investigating officer to show the involvement of the present accused in the alleged commission of the offence. Moreover, investigation in respect of present applicant/accused is at (a) very crucial stage.”

Teltumbde had issued an appeal carried by The Citizen where he had also pointed out that he was not even present the Elgaar Parishad event, that has provoked the arrests of several activists by the Maharashtra police. https://www.thecitizen.in/index.php/en/NewsDetail/index/2/16031/My-Hopes-Lie-Shattered-I-Need-Your-Support

Several organisations, scholars, professionals and students followed this with signature campaigns and petitions urging the government to quash the FIR against him. Teltumbde is currently in police custody according to reports. Assistant Commissioner of Police Shivaji Pawar has confirmed Teltumbde's arrest and that he will be produced before the special court in Pune Saturday.