The National Investigation Agency has asked a Mumbai special court to cancel the bail of activists Sudha Bharadwaj and Varavara Rao [1].

The move signals a tightening of legal restrictions on activists involved in the Elgar Parishad case, a high-profile investigation into alleged Maoist links. If the court grants the request, two of the most prominent figures in the case could return to custody [2].

The NIA filed the application on Friday, alleging that the two activists violated the conditions of their release [1]. According to the agency, Bharadwaj and Rao attended a meeting at the Mumbai Press Club on Jan. 19, 2023 [1], [3].

Investigators said the gathering included other co-accused individuals. The agency said the event was participation in a Maoist-related meeting, which would constitute a breach of the terms set by the court for their bail [1], [4].

The Elgar Parishad case has seen numerous activists arrested under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. The NIA said the conduct of these two individuals undermines the judicial process and the specific restrictions placed upon them during their release [3], [4].

The application focuses specifically on the interaction between the accused at the Press Club. The agency said that such meetings facilitate coordination among those accused of conspiracy against the state [1], [2].

“The NIA has asked a Mumbai special court to cancel the bail of activists Sudha Bharadwaj and Varavara Rao.”

This legal challenge highlights the friction between the Indian state's security apparatus and civil liberties activists. By seeking bail cancellation over a meeting at a press club, the NIA is attempting to establish a strict precedent regarding the 'conduct' of accused persons under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, effectively arguing that any interaction between co-accused—even in a semi-public professional setting—constitutes a threat to national security.