Bhima Koregaon case: NIA files charge sheet against Jesuit missionary Stan Swamy and seven other accused who have active links with banned Communist terrorist outfit

National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed supplementary charge sheet against eight accused in the Bhima Koregaon case before Special NIA court in Mumbai. Among the accused are Anand Teltumbde, Gautam Navlakha, Hany Babu and Stan Swamy. The charge sheet mentioned that the accused had “active links” with banned outfit Communist Party of India (Maoists).

Sagar Gorkhe, Ramesh Gaichor and Jyoti Jagtap of Kabir Kala Manch (KKM) were also named in the charge sheet. Another accused, Milind Teltumbde, is currently absconding.

According to reports, all of them are accused of having committed offences under anti-terror law Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), and offences related to sedition, waging war against India, criminal conspiracy etc., under the Indian Penal Code. They are also arraigned for conspiring to “further the ideology of terrorist organization CPI (Maoist)”, “bring hatred and disaffection towards the Government established by law” and “fostering enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, caste and community”.

Who is Stan Swamy?

Stan Swamy, an 83-year-old Jesuit missionary from Jharkhand, was arrested by the NIA in a raid late on Thursday night in connection with the Bhima Koregaon. In its charge sheet filed against eight people on Friday, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has accused them of inciting mob violence in Bhima Koregaon. Stan has been sent to jail till October 23.

According to reports, the NIA has recovered from Stan’s home the literature and other material related to the banned Communist terrorist outfit CPI (Maoist). The 83-year-old missionary was in contact with other accused in the case and was actively involved in the activities of the CPI (Maoist).

Officials also said that Stan has received huge funds for the activities of the banned terrorist outfit. NIA has been questioning him in connection with the Bhima Koregaon violence since 2018.

Stan has been coordinating the activities of several NGOs in various parts of the country. He is also the convenor of the Persecuted Prisoners Solidarity Committee (PPSC), a frontal organisation of the CPI (Maoist). Father Swamy hails from Kerala and has been working with tribals in Jharkhand for over five decades.