From Celebration to Imprisonment: A Look at the Bhima-Koregaon Case to Date
In January 2025, Rona Wilson and Sudhir Dhawale were released from prison after six years, with the Bombay High Court citing their "prolonged detention" as the reason. However, others, such as Surendra Gadling, who has been incarcerated since 2018, are still awaiting justice. The Supreme Court will hear Gadling's plea on September 17, 2025.
The Bhima-Koregaon event in 2018 was a Dalit-led commemoration that turned violent, resulting in the arrest of 16 individuals. Among them were academics, lawyers, teachers, and human rights activists, including Father Stan Swamy, who tragically passed away in custody.
The vast charge sheet in the Bhima-Koregaon case cites "incriminating letters", protected witness testimonies, and alleged illegal fund flows. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) took over the investigation in 2020. The NIA claimed that some of the accused had hatched a plot to assassinate Prime Minister Narendra Modi and overthrow the government, and that they were linked to the banned CPI (Maoist) outfit.
The December 31, 2017 gathering, known as the Elgar Parishad, was an anti-caste conclave. Speeches delivered at the event called for the annihilation of caste and defense of constitutional values. The Elgar Parishad was convened by anti-caste leaders including Soni Sori, Prakash Ambedkar, and Radhika Vemula.
The use of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) in the Bhima-Koregaon case has drawn sharp criticism. Meenakshi Ganguly of Human Rights Watch stated that UAPA is a tool to bypass due process and erode rights it claims to protect. As of September 2025, only 48 of 363 witness statements have been recorded in the case.
The violence at the Bhima-Koregaon event the next day was initially believed to be provoked by the desecration of a samadhi, but later investigations redirected scrutiny towards those who organized the Elgar Parishad gathering.
Eight of the 16 have been granted bail, but some remain jailed as courts have not yet ruled on their discharge petitions. Gautam Navlakha, released on bail in 2024, noted at an event that the state wants to break them, but each release strengthens their resolve to fight for justice. Lawyer Vrinda Grover, who has closely followed the case, added that the BK-16 are not just individuals; they represent the conscience of a nation.
Mahesh Raut was granted six-week interim bail for medical reasons on September 16, 2025. The Supreme Court's decision on Gadling's plea is eagerly awaited by many, as it could potentially set a precedent for the remaining detainees.
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