Teltumbde is a longtime critic of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and he was imprisoned in 2020 along with other activists and intellectuals who were critical of the Modi government.[8] His arrest was condemned by other academics and human rights organizations, and legal experts have said that the charges against him appear to be fabricated.[8][9] He was released on bail in 2022.
On 29 August 2018, the police raided Teltumbde's home, accusing him of having a connection to the 2018 Bhima Koregaon violence and an alleged Maoist plot to assassinate Prime MinisterNarendra Modi.[1][26] Teltumbde denied the allegations and was granted temporary protection from arrest, but he was nevertheless arrested by the Pune police on 3 February 2019 and released later that day.[2][27] After his release, Teltumbde accused the government of harassment and of attempting to criminalize dissent.[28] In the course of the investigation, various others have been critical of the handling of the case, including Supreme Court Justice D. Y. Chandrachud who questioned the biased nature of the investigation by the Maharashtra Police, when hearing a plea on the same.[29]
The Washington Post reported that Teltumbde was arrested as part of "a government crackdown on lawyers and activists" who are critics of Modi.[5] Legal experts have said the charges against Teltumbde appear fabricated.[9][30] More than 600 scholars and academics issued a joint statement in support of Teltumbde, condemning the government's actions as a "witch-hunt" and demanding an immediate halt to the actions against Teltumbde.[31][32] In addition, over 150 organizations and intellectuals—including Noam Chomsky and Cornel West—signed a letter to United Nations secretary general António Guterres, describing the charges as "fabricated" and calling for the UN to intervene.[27]
Teltumbde's mobile phone was hacked by Israeli spyware Pegasus through WhatsApp along with over a dozen other activists, lawyers, and journalists in India.[3][33] Teltumbde had noticed his phone had been "acting up" and was later contacted by Citizen Lab in October 2019.[34]
In November 2022, Teltumbde was released from Taloja Central Prison after the Bombay High Court granted him bail and the order was upheld by the Supreme Court.[41][42][43] The court found no prima facie evidence that Teltumbde had been involved in a terrorist act under the UAPA.[44]
Selected publications
The Radical in Ambedkar (ed.) (Penguin Random House, New Delhi, 2018) ISBN978-0670091157[45]
Republic of Caste: Thinking of Equality in the Era of Neoliberalism and Hindutva (Navayana, New Delhi, 2018) ISBN978-8189059842[46]
Dalits: Past, Present and Future (Routledge, London and New York, 2016) ISBN978-1138688759
Mahad: The Making of the First Dalit Revolt (Aakar, New Delhi, 2015) ISBN978-9350023983[47]
^ abcdeMasih, Niha (21 February 2019). "He is a prominent anti-Modi intellectual. The Indian government wants him behind bars". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 9 March 2019. Retrieved 9 March 2019. Teltumbde has been swept up in a government crackdown on lawyers and activists. The activists targeted in the investigation are advocates for India's most disadvantaged communities, including indigenous tribal people and Dalits, once called 'untouchables.' They also are vocal critics of the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
^Jodhka, Surinder S. (4 August 2018). "Caste in a New Mould". Indian Express. Archived from the original on 24 February 2019. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
^Teltumbde, Anand (30 July 2011). "Corruption and injustice". india-seminar.com. Archived from the original on 11 September 2017. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
^Sahni, Ajai (3 September 2018). "Urban Maoist Fakery". South Asian Intelligence Review. 17 (10). Archived from the original on 19 January 2019. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
