The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday sought to dismiss a plea by academician and Dalit rights activist Anand Teltumbde, an accused in the Elgaar Parishad case, who sought permission to travel abroad for academic purposes in April and May, 2025.
Through an affidavit in reply to the plea, the central probe agency apprehended that Teltumbde might abscond and seek shelter in foreign countries and avoid trial in the case.
The bench of Justices Ajey S Gadkari and Milind N Jadhav of HC, had in November, 2022 granted Teltumbde bail and subsequently the Supreme Court had upheld the HC order. As he was asked to not leave the jurisdiction of a special NIA court in Mumbai and was directed to deposit his passport, he approached the HC to modify his travel restrictions.
Through his application, Teltumbde sought permission to travel abroad to deliver lectures, attending seminars at various universities including University of Amsterdam, Leiden Institute for Asia Studies, Leiden University, Netherlands, Nottingham Trent University in the United Kingdom (UK), among others. He has also received invitations by the University of Oxford and two other varsities in the UK. However, The NIA, through an affidavit filed by its Superintendent of Police in Mumbai, IPS officer Pravin Ingawale, stated there was no necessity for him to deliver lectures in person and alternatively the same can be done virtually and that the link to these be shared with the NIA so that his activities can be monitored.
“Further, for delivering alleged lectures in person at the said foreign universities by applicant is strongly opposed by the NIA on the ground of likelihood of the applicant absconding and thereby allegedly taking shelter in the said countries to avoid the judicial process and trial of this case, as well applicant furthering the criminal and unlawful (activities) of CPI (Maoist) in India,” the NIA stated.
The NIA further claimed that “some of the wanted charge-sheeted accused of NIA and other Central law enforcement agencies have absconded and sought asylum in foreign countries”.
“Hence, there exists a legal hurdle in getting back the accused for the prosecution and trial of those cases. In the present case, the likelihood of the applicant absconding and taking asylum in said foreign countries cannot be ruled out from the fact of applicant being an active and senior member of the CPI (Maoist), a banned organisation,” the affidavit read.
Story continues below this ad
On Thursday, a bench of Justices Ajey S Gadkari and Kamal R Khata asked HC registry to verify Teltumbde’s plea and place it before an appropriate bench.