Activist Sudha Bharadwaj Walks Out Of Jail, NIA Lists 16 Conditions On Bail

December 9, 2021

On the 9th of December, Ms. Sudha Bharadwaj, one of the main accused in the 2018 Bhima Koregaon Maoist Attack case, got released from a Mumbai Jail. In 2018, activists Including P. Varavara Rao, a revolutionary writer from Hyderabad, Sudha Bharadwaj, Gautam Navlakha and others were arrested in the Bhima Koregaon Maoist plot against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) released activist Sudha Bharadwaj with conditions. On the 8th of December, Wednesday, she appeared before the NIA court for her bail conditions. A day after, she was released from Byculla Women’s Jail, Mumbai.

According to sources, the NIA listed 16 conditions on her bail.

The list of conditions include release submission of two government Id proofs, personal bond of Rs. 50,000, personal details (residential, phone, relatives,) attendance to nearest police station and others.

Details of the conditions listed by the NIA:

She shall reside within the jurisdiction of the Mumbai court and shall not leave without the court’s permission.
She shall inform the court and the NIA immediately about her place of residence within Mumbai and her contact numbers. Bhardwaj would also have to give the contact numbers of her relatives residing with her.
She shall submit a list of at least three blood relatives with their detailed residential and work addresses, with documentary proof.
She must inform the NIA and the court if there is any change of her residential address while she is on bail.
She has been directed to submit copies of at least two identity proofs —passport, Aadhar card, PAN card, ration card, electricity bill, voter identity card.
After these documents are submitted, the NIA shall conduct physical or virtual verification of her residential address and place a report before the court.
She shall attend the proceedings of trial and shall see that the trial is not protracted due to her absence.
She shall report to the nearest police station through WhatsApp video call fortnightly.
She shall not make any statement regarding the proceedings pending before the court before any form of media — print, electronic or social.
She shall not indulge in any activity similar to the activities on the basis of which the present FIR was registered against her for offences under the Indian Penal Code and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
She shall not try to establish communication with co-accused or any other person involved directly or indirectly in similar activities or make any international call to any person indulging in similar activities.
She shall not undertake any action which is prejudicial to the proceedings pending before the court.
She shall not personally, or through anyone, make any attempt to influence prosecution witnesses or tamper with the evidence.
There shall not be any gathering of visitors, other than near relatives, where the accused shall reside within the jurisdiction of the court.
She shall surrender her passport and not misuse the liberty.