Teltumbde’s surrender comes on a day of the birth anniversary of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. Teltumbde is Ambedkar’s grandson-in-law.
Mumbai| Civil rights activist and intellectual Anand Teltumbde on Tuesday surrendered before the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in Mumbai. Teltumbde is an accused of his alleged Maoist links in organizing the Elgar Parishad.
Teltumbde’s surrender comes on a day of the birth anniversary of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. Teltumbde is Ambedkar’s grandson-in-law.
Teltumbde along with several other civil rights activists was booked under the stringent Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) for alleged Maoist links and plan to overthrow the government. The activists were earlier booked by the Pune Police after the violence that erupted in Bhima-Koregaon of Maharashtra.
According to police, the activists had made inflammatory speeches and statements that incited the violence after the Elgar Parishad event held in Pune on 31st December 2017. The police also claimed that the activists are active members of Maoist groups. The case was later transferred to NIA.
Teltumbde along with activist Gautam Navlakha was yet to be arrested as they were given interim protection by the Bombay High Court. Meanwhile, their pre-arrest bail pleas were heard. On 8th April, Supreme Court Directed Teltumbde and Navlakha to surrender till 14 April, abiding by which Teltumbde today surrendered at the NIA office in Mumbai.
Teltumbde was accompanied by his wife, Prakash Ambedkar and Kapil Patil before he produced himself in the NIA office in Mumbai.
Many writers, politicians, and civil rights activist expressed their anguish over the arrest of Teltumbde on a day of birth anniversary of Dr. Ambedkar, whose ardent follower Teltumbde is, they said.
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