The Supreme Court on Wednesday, November 19, 2025, granted interim bail to activist Jyoti Jagtap, who has been incarcerated for over five years in connection with the Elgar Parishad–Maoist links case. A bench of Justices M.M. Sundresh and Satish Chandra Sharma issued the order after senior advocate Aparna Bhat, representing Jagtap, brought to the court's attention that Jagtap has been in custody since September 2020. Advocate Karishma Maria also appeared for Jagtap. Jagtap's interim bail is set to continue until the next hearing, scheduled for February 2026.
Jagtap, a cultural activist associated with Kabir Kala Manch (KKM), was arrested on September 8, 2020. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) alleges that Jagtap was part of the team that organized the Elgar Parishad event in Pune's Shaniwarwada area on December 31, 2017. The NIA has accused the Elgar Parishad of inciting the violence that broke out at Bhima Koregaon, over 30 kilometers away from Pune, on January 1, 2018.
The Elgar Parishad event, held on December 31, 2017, at Shaniwar Wada in Pune, commemorated the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Koregaon Bhima. The prosecution argued that the event featured provocative performances that incited animosity between caste groups, leading to violence and statewide unrest. Jagtap is accused of performing songs and raising provocative slogans alongside other KKM members.
The Bombay High Court had previously dismissed Jagtap's appeal against a February 2022 order by a special court that denied her bail. The High Court stated that Jagtap was an active member of KKM, which delivered "not only aggressive, but also highly provocative slogans" during its performance at the Elgar Parishad. The court found reasonable grounds to believe the NIA's allegations that Jagtap had "conspired, attempted, advocated, and abetted the commission of a terrorist act," deeming the accusations prima facie true. The NIA has maintained that KKM is a front organization of the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist).
Jagtap is one of 16 human rights defenders and academics arrested in the Elgar Parishad case since June 2018. Five remain incarcerated, while others are on bail. The case gained prominence due to the arrests of high-profile activists and lawyers. Initially investigated by the Pune police, the NIA took over the case. The chargesheet alleges that the accused arranged the Elgar Parishad through KKM to create communal disharmony and incite violence.
Other activists arrested in the case include Sudhir Dhawale, Shoma Sen, and Rona Wilson, with some later granted bail. Stan Swamy, a tribal rights activist, died in custody on July 5, 2021. The Supreme Court's decision to grant Jagtap interim bail comes after she has spent five years and six months in jail. Her interim bail will last until February 2026.
