Varavara Rao moves Karnataka HC against non-bailable warrant in 2005 case

Last week a lower court in Karnataka issued a non-bailable warrant (NBW) against Telugu poet Varavara Rao in connection with the 2005 police massacre case. In response to that his counsel has filed a petition before the Karnataka High Court pleading to set aside warrant.

A lower court in Madhugiri district of Karnataka has issued summons to him in one of the cases dating back to 2005. The anticipatory bail in the case was rejected citing his repeated absence for the hearing. His surety was also confiscated and a non-bailable warrant was issued against him.

Rao was arrested from Hyderabad for his alleged involvement in the Bhima-Koregaon case on 28th august 2018.

The poet is currently on bail for a period of six months in the Bhima-Koregaon case and one of the bail conditions is that he cannot travel out of Mumbai. He was granted bail on medical grounds.

When the moon slips into Darkness: K Satyanrayana on Varavara Rao

The Madhugiri court did not consider the condition imposed by Mumbai High Court. Hence Rao’s lawyer has moved the Karnataka High Court for the cancellation of Non bailable warrant.

Rao’s family members are also wondering about the manner in which court has proceeded despite knowing the Mumbai High court bail conditions and rejected anticipatory bail, confiscate his surety and issue a non-bailable warrant.

What is the case in Karnataka on Varavara Rao?

In 2005, the police gunned down Naxal leader Saket Rajan in Chikkamagaluru. Later, a meeting was held in Bengaluru to condemn the incident. The meeting was attended by Rao and another activist of Andhra Pradesh, Gaddar.

After which, a Naxal attack had taken place in Vekatammanahalli village in Pavagad taluk of Tumakuru district. In the attack seven persons, including six Karnataka Special Reserve Police personnel had lost their lives. The police alleged that the provocative speeches of Rao and Gaddar resulted in the Naxal attack.

While 22 persons who were facing similar charges were later acquitted but the case against these two people continued.

S Balan, the counsel for Varavara Rao, told IANS on Monday, October 25 that he has filed a petition to set aside the order of the Additional Sessions court at Madhugiri. The appeal has been made on the grounds that Varavara Rao’s movement was restricted by the Mumbai High Court. “Therefore in view of the High Court order he could not appear before the court,” he stated.

On the date of the hearing, an exemption application was filed that was erroneously dismissed and the NBW was issued. Therefore, this petition has been filed to set aside the order by the Madhugiri court, he said.

When Varavara Rao was released in the Bhima Koregaon violence case, the Madhugiri court issued a body warrant. “Now he has to appear. There is a direction that he should not leave the jurisdiction of Mumbai airport. His movement was restricted by the Mumbai High Court and he could not appear following which NBW had been issued,” advocate Balan explained.