No evidence, only suspicion: Court grants bail to TISS student in Maoist slogans case

A Mumbai court granted bail to TISS student Abhirup Ashim Paul in a case over alleged Maoist-related activities and slogans. The court said there was no material against him beyond suspicion and that further custodial interrogation was unnecessary. Paul was granted bail on a Rs 1 lakh bond and directed to report weekly.

In Short

• Paul was booked under BNS provisions and Maharashtra Police Act charges
• Police linked the FIR to an October 12 Saibaba memorial gathering
• Investigators cited deleted messages, Signal removal and Maoism-related PDF files

A Mumbai court on Thursday granted bail to Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) student Abhirup Ashim Paul alias Rony, who was arrested in connection with a case registered over alleged Maoist-related activities and slogans raised at the institute.

Paul was booked under several provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including those relating to unlawful assembly, promoting enmity and criminal conspiracy, as well as provisions of the Maharashtra Police Act.

The FIR was registered at Trombay police station in connection with an incident on October 12, 2025. According to the prosecution, Paul and other TISS students had gathered to commemorate the death anniversary of former Delhi University professor GN Saibaba and allegedly raised slogans, including demands for the release of jailed activists Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam. The prosecution alleged that the gathering was part of a pre-planned conspiracy intended to create ideological divisions among TISS students and disturb law and order.

The investigating agency also relied on material allegedly recovered from Paul’s mobile phone and laptop, including PDFs of books related to Maoism. It alleged that messages and the Signal application had been deleted and claimed that the material indicated support for Maoist ideology and possible links with banned organisations.

However, Magistrate DS Khedekar observed that the investigating officer had got sufficient time to investigate the offence and the activities of the accused. The court said that, prima facie, there was no material against the accused to connect him with the unity of the nation.

The magistrate said consideration of bail to the young offender was necessary for maintaining his career. He noted that there was no incriminating material except suspicion. "Hence, keeping accused behind the bar would not be just," the court said.

The court added that, prima facie, except suspicion, there was no material to link the activities of the accused with the mindset of Maoists, against the nation, or with any banned organisation against India.

The court also noted that Paul had already been interrogated and that further custodial interrogation was unnecessary. It granted bail on a Rs 1 lakh personal bond with sureties and directed him to report to DCB-CID every Wednesday until the chargesheet is filed.

- Ends