Unraveling Shoma Sen: Academic figure granted bail after 6 years by Supreme Court

Professor Shoma Sen found a significant legal breakthrough in the Elgar Parishad case as she was granted bail on Friday, April 5th. The Supreme Court extended this relief in connection to the Bhima Koregaon case, where she was one of the accused individuals. Sen had spent close to six years behind bars, facing allegations related to purported Maoist links under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act of 1967 (UPA). Her arrest took place on June 6, 2018.

 Arrest and Charges

The arrest of Shoma Sen occurred on June 8, 2018, alongside Sudhir Dhawale, Mahesh Raut, Surendra Gadling, and Rona Wilson by the Pune Police. They faced accusations related to their alleged involvement in the Bhima Koregaon violence and were charged under the provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Following her detention, on June 15th, Sen was suspended from her position at Nagpur University, as she had been under police custody for over 48 hours.

Profile of Shoma Sen

Shoma Sen is recognised as a Dalit women's rights activist and an Assistant Professor. She held the position of the head of the English Literature department at Nagpur University. Born into an upper-middle-class Bengali family in Bandra, Mumbai, she pursued her academic journey by completing her school education at St. Joseph's Convent. She further obtained a Master's degree in English Literature from Elphinstone College in Mumbai, followed by an M.Phil and Ph.D. from Nagpur University, leading to her career as a professor.

Activism and Arrest

Sen is known for her advocacy in human rights and Dalit activism. Her daughter, Komal Sen, pointed out that prior to her arrest, Sen had never faced detention or questioning. Komal Sen alleged that her mother's arrest was an effort to suppress voices advocating for Dalit rights and social justice.

Conditions for Bail

The Supreme Court has set forth specific conditions for Shoma Sen's bail. She is prohibited from leaving Maharashtra and must surrender her passport. Additionally, she is required to inform National Investigation Agency (NIA) officials about her residence and keep her contact number active. The court has mandated that the GPS on her mobile device remains active at all times, and she maintains continuous communication with NIA officials to provide updates about her whereabouts. Any breach of these conditions may result in the cancellation of her bail plea.