Bhima Koregaon case: NIA summons sons in law of poet Varavara Rao

Hyderabad: National Investigating Agency (NIA) has summoned sons-in-law of poet Varavara Rao in connection with Bhima Koregaon case.

Professor K Sathyanarayana from EFLU, Hyderabad, and KV Kurmanath, a senior journalist, have been asked to report to the NIA office Mumbai on September 9. Varavara Rao had been arrested in 2018 in connection with the case and had been lodged in prison since then.

"I wish to share the distressing news that NIA, Mumbai, summoned me to appear before it as a witness on September 6. My co-brother K V Kurmanath, a senior journalist, was also summoned to appear on the same date," said Prof K Satyanarayana in a statement.

In August 2018, Pune police raided the residence of Prof K Satyanarayana on the pretext of collecting evidence against Varavara Rao. "I have already stated that I am no way connected to Bhima Koregaon case. Varavara Rao being my father in law was used to raid my house and cause mental agony," said Prof K Satyanarayana.

NIA has asked the duo to appear at their Mumbai office where the investigation of Bhima Koregaon is being conducted. "NIA notice adds to our family distress at a time when Varavara Rao's health condition is not very good and the pandemic is fast spreading in Mumbai. I have been summoned to Mumbai in these terrible times," said Prof K Satyanarayana.

On August 27, Varavara Rao, one of the accused arrested by NIA in the Elgar Parishad case was discharged from Nanavati Hospital. He was admitted on July 19 after he tested positive for Covid-19. He has been taken back to Taloja jail in Navi Mumbai where he was earlier lodged.