Two prominent artists of Kabir Kala Manch, Sagar Gorkhe and Ramesh Gachhor, were released from jail on Tuesday night, nearly 1,970 days after their arrest in the Bhima-Koregaon–Elgar Parishad case. The Bombay High Court granted them bail. They were freed from Taloja Central Jail late on Tuesday.

Gorkhe and Gachhor had been arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on September 7, 2020, under UAPA and other serious charges. The authorities alleged their involvement in the Elgar Parishad event held in Pune in December 2017, which was later linked to the Bhima-Koregaon violence.

After their release, Sagar Gorkhe told the media, “During these more than five years in jail, I waited for every moment of freedom. Our dignity and self-respect remain intact.” Ramesh Gachhor expressed mixed emotions, saying that while there is relief, there is also a heavy heart as their colleague Surendra Gadling remains in judicial custody.

The Bombay High Court set bail conditions including a bond of ₹1 lakh each, surrendering their passports, and regular reporting to the NIA.

In the Bhima-Koregaon–Elgar Parishad case, a total of 16 people were arrested, 14 of whom had already been granted bail. Senior activist Father Stan Swamy passed away in July 2021 while in custody, and Gadling’s case is still pending before the Supreme Court.

Police allege a direct link between the Elgar Parishad event and the subsequent violence, citing purported Maoist connections. Critics, however, have pointed to delays in evidence and trial processes, with many accused spending long periods in jail without a formal trial.

Experts note that the release of Gorkhe and Gachhor is not only a personal victory for them but also brings renewed focus to the judicial process and human rights debates surrounding this controversial case.