NIA arrests DU professor for 'role' in Elgar Parishad case

NEW DELHI: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday arrested Hany Babu Musaliyarveettil Tharayil, an associate professor in Delhi University, for his involvement in the

Elgar Parishad case

that allegedly led to caste-based violence in Koregaon Bhima in January 2018.


Hany Babu, 54, a resident of Gautam Buddha Nagar in UP, was arrested by the NIA in Mumbai after being questioned over the past few days. He works in DU's English department.

In a statement, the NIA claimed Hany Babu was propagating Naxal activities and Maoist ideology.

NIA: Hany Babu among key conspirators

In a statement, the NIA claimed Hany Babu was a coconspirator with the other accused, who have been arrested in connection with what has come to be known as the Koregaon Bhima-Elgar Parishad case. “He was arrested as his questioning pointed to his prima facie involvement in the conspiracy," an official told TOI.

The Koregaon Bhima-Elgar Parishad case has gained prominence due to the alleged involvement of some high-profile activists, lawyers and academicians. It involves alleged incitement of people with provocative speeches during the Elgar Parishad organised by activists of Kabir Kala Manch at Shaniwarwada, Pune, on December 31, 2017, which “promoted enmity between various caste groups and led to (Koregaon Bhima) violence, resulting in the loss of life and property and state-wide agitation in Maharashtra,” NIA said on Tuesday.

The case was initially probed by the Pune police, which made several high-profile arrests, including that of Chhattisgarh-based activist Sudha Bharadwaj and writer-poet-activist Varavara Rao. It also filed two chargesheets, one in 2018 and the other in 2019. In January, the NIA took over the case.