Extra Bio Info:

Sudhir Dhawale was detained for his human rights and civil rights work for marginalized religious communities.

On June 6, 2018, police in Maharashtra arrested several prominent Dalit and Adivasi rights activists, including Dhawale, a writer and one of the organizers of the Elgar Parishad event. Authorities accused Dhawale and others of inciting caste-based violence through speeches on December 31, 2017, that resulted in violent clashes the next day in Bhima Koregaon and neighboring villages in Maharashtra state.  Authorities also accused them of having ties to banned Maoist groups. Dhawale was reportedly charged under various sections of the Penal Code and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

On October 5, 2018, several UN human rights experts expressed concern that the charges against Dhawale and other activists in the case are “being used to silence human rights defenders who promote and protect the rights of India’s Dalit, indigenous, and tribal communities.”

On February 14, 2020, Dhawale’s case was transferred from Pune, Maharashtra, to a special National Investigation Agency court in Mumbai.

In August 2021, the National Investigation Agency submitted draft charges to a special court in Mumbai, claiming that Dhawale and others accused in the case were active members of the banned terrorist organization Communist Party of India. It also alleged that the accused wanted to establish a “janta sarkar” “via revolution supported by a commitment to protracted armed struggle to undermine and to seize power from the state.” The accused were charged with over a dozen offenses including, "promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony" (Sec. 153A IPC), public mischief (Sec. 505(1)(B) IPC), “waging, or attempting to wage war, or abetting waging of war, against the Government of India” (Sec. 121 IPC), “conspiracy to commit offences” waging war against the state (Sec. 121A IPC), sedition (Sec. 124A IPC), and several sections under UAPA.

Dhawale was held at Taloja Central Jail, Navi Mumbai.

Dhawale was denied proper medical care, including dental care.

In January 2025, Sudhir Dhawale was released on bail.

Related Cases: Shoma Sen, Surendra Gadling, Mahesh Raut, Rona Wilson, Gautam Navlakha, Vernon Gonsalves, Arun Ferreira, Anand Teltumbde, Hany Babu, Ramesh Murlidhar Gaichor, Sagar Tatyarao Gorakhe, Jyoti Jagtap, Stan Swamy

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Mahesh Raut was detained for his human rights and civil rights work for marginalized religious communities.

On June 6, 2018, police in Maharashtra arrested several prominent Dalit and Adivasi rights activists, including Raut, who worked with the local self-governance institutions of Adivasis in rural Maharashtra. Authorities accused Raut and others of inciting caste-based violence through speeches on December 31, 2017, that resulted in violent clashes the next day in Bhima Koregaon and neighboring villages in Maharashtra state.  Authorities also accused them of having ties to banned Maoist groups. Raut was reportedly charged under various sections of the Penal Code and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

On October 5, 2018, several UN human rights experts expressed concern that the charges against Raut and other activists in the case are “being used to silence human rights defenders who promote and protect the rights of India’s Dalit, indigenous, and tribal communities.”

On February 14, 2020, Raut’s case was transferred from Pune, Maharashtra, to a special National Investigation Agency court in Mumbai.

In June 2021, it was reported that Raut had tested positive for COVID-19 while in jail.

In August 2021, the National Investigation Agency submitted draft charges to a special court in Mumbai, claiming that Raut and others accused in the case were active members of the banned terrorist organization Communist Party of India. It also alleged that the accused wanted to establish a “janta sarkar” “via revolution supported by a commitment to protracted armed struggle to undermine and to seize power from the state.” The accused were charged with over a dozen offenses including, "promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony" (Sec. 153A IPC), public mischief (Sec. 505(1)(B) IPC), “waging, or attempting to wage war, or abetting waging of war, against the Government of India” (Sec. 121 IPC), “conspiracy to commit offences” waging war against the state (Sec. 121A IPC), sedition (Sec. 124A IPC), and several sections under UAPA.

On September 21, 2023, the Bombay High Court granted Raut bail. However, it stayed the order a week to allow prosecutors to appeal.

On September 27, 2023, the Supreme Court stayed Raut's bail pending appeal.

Raut was held at Taloja Central Jail, Navi Mumbai. Authorities denied him adequate medical care.

In September 2025, authorities released Mahesh Raut on medical bail.

Related Cases: Shoma Sen, Surendra Gadling, Sudhir Dhawale, Rona Wilson, Gautam Navlakha, Vernon Gonsalves, Arun Ferreira, Anand Teltumbde, Hany Babu, Ramesh Murlidhar Gaichor, Sagar Tatyarao Gorakhe, Jyoti Jagtap, Stan Swamy

Extra Bio Info:

Surendra Gadling is detained for religious freedom advocacy.

In June 2018, police in Maharashtra arrested Gadling, a human rights lawyer known for defending Dalits and Adivasis, marginalized communities under India's religiously-based caste system. Authorities accused Gadling of inciting caste-based violence through speeches in December 2017 and charged him with "promoting enmity on grounds of religion," (Sec. 153A IPC), waging war against the state (Sec. 121A IPC), sedition (Sec. 124A IPC), and other crimes under the the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). Authorities confined him at Taloja Central Jail, Navi Mumbai.

During detention, Gadling's health has deteriorated, and authorities have denied him adequate medical care for his hypertension, diabetes, cervical spondylitis, and other ailments.