Vernon Gonsalves was arrested under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act by Pune police on 28th August 2018. He has been charged with inciting the Bhima-Koregaon anti-Dalit violence that took place in January 2018. He has also been accused of being a member of the banned CPI(Maoist) party and participating in a plot to assassinate Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Gonsalves is an academic, trade unionist and social activist. He has done extensive work among unorganised workers in the Vidarbha region of eastern Maharashtra, facilitating the formation of workers’ unions and advocating for better pay and working conditions.
He is also a political writer who regularly writes on issues of social inequality and injustice in India. In an article written in March 2017, he strongly opposed the UAPA, stating that it “criminalises ideology and association” and describing how it is being used by the government to crush dissent.
Gonsalves was born in a lower middle class Catholic family in Byculla, Mumbai. He obtained an M Com degree from Mumbai University, and was a gold medallist in academics. He was an executive in the multinational technology company Siemens.
He quit the corporate world to join academics and he has taught business management and economics at renowned institutions such as Ruparel College, HR College of Commerce and Economics, and Akbar Peerbhoy College of Commerce and Economics in Mumbai.
In 1983, he started work as a trade union organiser in the mining district of Chandrapur in Maharashtra.
Due to the political nature of his work Gonsalves has been a target of the government for many years. He was first arrested in the year 2007 on charges of being a Naxalite and possessing explosives and was falsely implicated in multiple cases. He spent 6 years in jail as his trials dragged on. By May 2013 he was acquitted in all but one of these cases.
The charges in the Bhima-Koregaon case are based entirely on electronic communication allegedly obtained from the hard drives of some of those accused. The authenticity of this evidence has been called into question by cyber experts as the police failed to follow proper procedures in the process of its collection.
Further, none of the electronic documents and letters obtained are written by Gonsalves or addressed to him. In spite of the flimsy nature of this evidence he has been refused bail by the Pune sessions court, and later the Bombay High Court.
We demand the dropping of all charges against Vernon Gonsalves and his immediate release.
Launched by Socialist Party (India)
Endorsed by:
| 1. Abha Sur, Cambridge, MA, USA, MIT, Lecturer |
| 2. Abhishek, Delhi, Student |
| 3. Aditya Naique, Goa |
| 4. Adolf Silva, Santacruz, Retired |
| 5. Adv. Sr. Philo Thomas, Pune, Women’s Welfare Center, Director |
| 6. Agnelo Menezes, Mumbai |
| 7. Akhil Kumar, State College, PA, USA, Pennsylvania State University, Professor |
| 8. Allwyn D’Silva, Mumbai, Centre for Peace Trust |
| 9. Amir Singh, Mumbai, IIT Bombay, Assistant Professor |
| 10. Ancy, Nawada, SNEHADEEP, Cordinator |
| 11. Angela Ferrao, Goa |
| 12. Angela Nazareth, Bangalore |
| 13. Anjali Gonsalves, Mangalore, Amilla, Officer |
| 14. Annie, Bangalore, Independent, Service |
| 15. Anson Frederick Rodrigues, Naigaon East, Student |
| 16. Anurag Singh, Lucknow, Student |
| 17. Arthur Menezes, Mumbai, Retired banker |
| 18. Arun Agnihotri, Vadodara |
| 19. Ashish Borkar, Mumbai, Advocate |
| 20. Atul, a law student at the National Law University |
| 21. Amitabha Basu, New Delhi, Karwan e Mohabbat, Retired scientist, CSIR-NPL, New Delhi |
| 22. Avi, Delhi, Harvard University |
| 23. B.Thomas Fernandes, Goa, Retired, Design Consultant |
| 24. Barbara Gonsalves, South Canara, HSBC, Retired |
| 25. Bernard Rodrigues, Bandra West, Mumbai, Retired |
| 26. Bobby Ramakant, Citizen News Service |
| 27. Bobby Varghese, USA |
| 28. Brian Dlima, Mumbai, Advocate |
| 29. Brian Rego, Richmond, British Columbia, Canada, Securiguard Services Ltd, Vancouver, BC, Security Officer |
| 30. Brinelle D’Souza, Mumbai, JCoR, West India, JSA-MUMBAI, Convenor |
| 31. Cajetan, Mumbai, Retired |
| 32. Carl, Mumbai |
| 33. Cassandra Nazareth, Mumbai |
| 34. Cedric Prakash, Ahmedabad, Human Rights and Peace Activist |
| 35. Chakri, Vizag, Samalochana, Convenor |
| 36. Chhotebhai, Kanpur, Indian Catholic Forum, National Convenor |
| 37. Colin, Bandra, Retired |
| 38. David DCosta, Bangalore |
| 39. Delia, Gujarat |
| 40. Dennis Gonsalves, Sydney Australia , Self-employed, Finance |
| 41. Dorothy Fernandes, Patna, Aashray Abhiyan, Directress |
| 42. Dr Biswajit, Cuttack Odisha, Rashtriya Yuva Sangathan, National Convener |
| 43. Dr Lionel DSouza, Mumbai, Medical Professional |
| 44. Dr Thouseef Madikeri, Bangalore, CARE, Director |
| 45. Edwin J Gonsalves, Toronto, Canada |
| 46. Fleur D’Souza, Mumbai, Retired |
| 47. Florence Mascarenhas, Australia, Retired |
| 48. Fr Xavier Lobo, Naidod, Shirva, Udupi Dt, Karnataka, India, Retired, Professor Emeritus |
| 49. Francis Gonsalves, Mumbai, Freelance journalist |
| 50. Francis Parmar, Anand, Gujarat, India, Rtd academician |
| 51. Francis R Fernandes, Vashi, Retired, Engineer |
| 52. Freny Manecksha, Mumbai |
| 53. Grace, Goa, Women’s Commission for Goa, Directoress |
| 54. Gregory Saldanha, Canada, Mechanical, Supervisor |
| 55. Harry Saldanha |
| 56. Hasan Abdullah, Delhi |
| 57. Hillary Gonsalves, Borivali, Retired from Siemens |
| 58. Hiren Gandhi, Ahmedabad |
| 59. Howell Pereira, Mumbai, Retired |
| 60. T Ramakrishnan, Sathyamangalam |
| 61. Irwin Gonsalves, Dakshina Kanada, HSBC, Retired |
| 62. Jacob J Z, Mumbai, Retired |
| 63. Jagmohan Singh, Ludhiana, Association For Democratic Rights, General Secretary |
| 64. Jeffrey Joseph, Byculla, Lawyer |
| 65. Jessin, Karnataka |
| 66. Joe, Siliguri, Social Worker |
| 67. John Subbiah, London, NHS, Clinical Nurse Specialist |
| 68. Joseph Mascarenhas, Australia |
| 69. Joseph Mattam, Sevasi, Vadodara, Gujarat Vidya Deep |
| 70. Joseph Savio Athaide, Mumbai, Retired |
| 71. Joseph Xavier, Bengaluru, Indian Social Institute, Director |
| 72. Jothi SJ, Kolkata, RTF West Bengal, Co-Convener |
| 73. Julia, Pune, Lawyer |
| 74. K. Satchidanandan, Delhi, Indian Writers Forum, Professor (Retd) |
| 75. Kamini Jacob , Sharjah, Hotelier, General Manager |
| 76. Keith M. Pye, Mumbai, Global Offshore, Ch. Engineer |
| 77. Kevin |
| 78. Khairunnisha, Gujarat, Parwaaz, Activist |
| 79. Kritika, Siliguri |
| 80. Lawrence Almeida, Pune, Accountant |
| 81. Lisa Pires, Nagoa, Bardez, Goa, Presentation Sisters, Retired |
| 82. Lisa Thomas, Mumbai, Working woman |
| 83. Loretta Rodrigues, Goa |
| 84. Lubna Sarwath, Ph.D. and Former Visiting Lecturer, Trisakti University, Jakarta, Indonesia |
| 85. Lynette Moore, Republic of Ireland |
| 86. Maansi Shah, New York, USA, Columbia University |
| 87. Malay Bhattacharyya, Bangalore, IIM Bangalore, Professor |
| 88. Mallika Sarabhai, Ahmedabad |
| 89. Manju, Patna, FORUM |
| 90. Madhusudhan Raman, Mumbai, TIFR, Visiting Fellow |
| 91. Manjulika, Bangalore |
| 92. Manohar, Ulhasnagar, Retired |
| 93. Marcelline Franc Coelho, Mumbai, St Xaviers High School and Jr College, Teacher |
| 94. Margaret Gonsalves, Vasai, Gonsalo Garcia Church, sister |
| 95. Marian Alexander Baby |
| 96. Mario Rodrigues, Mumbai |
| 97. Marshall Soares, Mahim Mumbai, Retired |
| 98. Maurice Gomed, Mumbai, Retired |
| 99. Meenakshi Gandotra, Delhi |
| 100. Merrill Pye, Mumbai, Homemaker |
| 101. Mohammad Chappalwala, Palampur, HP, Sambhaavnaa Institute, Team Member |
| 102. Mohammad Imran, Lucknow, UP and Ringwood NJ, Retired PS (NJ) and Retired Certified Appraisar (NJ) |
| 103. Mohini Mullick, New Delhi, IIT Kanpur Retired, Professor and Fellow |
| 104. Mrs Christibe Bright, United Kingdom, Retired |
| 105. Mujahid, Gujarat, MCC |
| 106. Namrata, Jharkhand, Freelancer, Consultant |
| 107. Nandita G. Xavier, Bangalore, School, Teacher |
| 108. Naresh Bhargava |
| 109. Nativedade Pereira, Mulund Mumbai, Retired |
| 110. Navdeep Mathur, Ahmedabad, IIM, Faculty |
| 111. Nehemiah Christie, India, The Synod of Pentecostal Churches, Executive Director |
| 112. Nelson Monteiro, Thane, Private Service, Manager |
| 113. Nihar, Andheri, Mumbai |
| 114. Nikita Sukhathankar, Mumbai |
| 115. Niloufer Bhagwat, Mumbai, Indian Association of Lawyers, Vice President |
| 116. Olivia Gonsalves, Mumbai, Retired |
| 117. Palak, Indore |
| 118. Peehu Pardeshi, Mumbai, TISS, Assistant Professor |
| 119. Peter D Souza, Poshina, Aravalli Vikas Trust, Manager |
| 120. Peter DeSouza, Aurora, Ohio, USA |
| 121. Prem Moraes, Bombay |
| 122. Priscilla Stanley Pinto, Naigaon, Vasai Taluka, Maharashtra, Housewife, Retired School Teacher |
| 123. Purandar Bhaduri, Guwahati |
| 124. Pushpraj, Delhi, Journalist, Freelance Journalist |
| 125. Rahul Varman, Kanpur, IIT Kanpur, Academic |
| 126. Rajendra Sahai, Berkeley, California, Institute for Critical Study of Society, Researcher-Writer |
| 127. Rasheed Ahmed, United States |
| 128. Richard Fernandes, Thane, Retired |
| 129. Richard, Mumbai, Self employed |
| 130. Roger Gaikwad, Guwahati, Director, Theological education, Mission and Evangelism, DNEI |
| 131. Romanee Menzies, Mumbai, Air India, Manager |
| 132. Royden Noel Lobo, Dubai, Geologist |
| 133. Rudi, Delhi, ISI, Researcher |
| 134. Rufus Francis, England, Communication Engineer, Health and Safety Rep. |
| 135. S Emmanuel, Chennai, AICUF, National Adviser |
| 136. S. Ehtisham, New Jersey, USA, Surgeon Private Practice |
| 137. Sadashiv Pandit, Dahisar, Mumbai, Retired |
| 138. Sahir V. Abraham, Mumbai |
| 139. Samar Bagchi, Kolkata, NAPM, West Bengal, Member |
| 140. Sandeep Pandey, Ph.D., UC Berkeley; Visiting Faculty, IIT Kanpur, IIT Gandhinagar, BHU Varanasi, IIM Ahmedabad |
| 141. Saud ul Hasan, Lucknow, Freelancer, Law Student |
| 142. Saumya Chakrabarti, PhD, Professor of Economics, Visva-Bharati (University), Santiniketan, India |
| 143. Sayandeb Chowdhury, Delhi, Ambedkar University Delhi, Assistant Professor |
| 144. SC Chaudhary, Patna, Bihar, CPI (ML), State Secretary |
| 145. SD Lalita, Mumbai, Individual |
| 146. Sharad Behar, Bhopal, IAS Retired, Former CHIEF SECRETARY, GOVERNMENT OF M.P. |
| 147. Sharada Ganesh, Bengaluru |
| 148. Sharmila Roy, USA, Attorney at Law |
| 149. Shiva Shankar, Chennai |
| 150. Shuchita, Sitapur, Socialist Party |
| 151. Siddharth Ramachandran, Boston, MA, USA, Boston University, Professor |
| 152. Socorro Vaz, Andheri West Mumbai, Marine Academy, Teaching Faculty |
| 153. Spurthi, Delhi |
| 154. Sridhar A, Mumbai, TISS, Mumbai, Senior Research Officer |
| 155. Srinivasan G, Bangalore |
| 156. Stephen Menezes, Mumbai |
| 157. Stephen Pereira, Mumbai, Self Employed, Lawyer |
| 158. Sudhir Singh, Jammu, LES PVT LTD, Lecturer |
| 159. Sumeet Agarwal, New Delhi, IIT Delhi, Assistant Professor |
| 160. Sunita CJ, Koraon, Prayagraj, Maria Ward Manav Sashaktikaran Sanstha, In-Charge |
| 161. Supratik Chakraborty, Mumbai |
| 162. Surabhi Agarwal, MPhil, Hyderabad University |
| 163. Susan Abraham, Mumbai, Bombay High Court , Advocate |
| 164. Susana Dmello, Mumbai, Standard Chartered Bank, Banking Assistant |
| 165. Sushil Handa, Alumni IIT Kanpur |
| 166. Swetha G, Bangalore, Teacher |
| 167. Syed Ehtisham, New Jersey, USA, Surgeon, Private Practice |
| 168. Tejinder Singh Sond, Navi Mumbai |
| 169. Ulhas, Ambernath |
| 170. Vaishnavi, Mumbai, KC Law, Student |
| 171. Vanessa Alphonso , Singapore |
| 172. Varkey Abraham, Toronto |
| 173. Vidya Dinker, India, INSAF |
| 174. Vimal Bhanot, Pilani, Retd.Professor |
| 175. Virginius Xaxa, New Delhi, Formerly with Delhi University, Former Professor |
| 176. Waman Sawant, Mumbai, Siemens Ltd., Retired |
| 177. Yasmeen, Mumbai |
| 178. Zuber, Ahmedabad |
| 179. K Venkata Subrahmanyam, Chennai, CMI, Professor |
| 180. Pratik Roy, Chennai, IIT Madras, Research Associate I |
| 181. Adwitee Roy, Chennai, CMI, PhD Student |
| 182. Shamsul Islam, NCR, Former Faculty Delhi University |
| 183. Neelima Sharma, NCR, Nishant Natya Manch, Secretary |
| 184. Vishal Kumar, Varanasi, Renew Oceans Foundation, General Manager |
| 185. Nisha Biswas, Kolkata |
| 186. Priyambada Sarkar, Kolkata, University of Calcutta, Professor |
| 187. Dennis Gonsalves, Sydney Australia, Retired |
| 188. Pervin Jehangir, Mumbai |
