Rona Wilson, a researcher, and Sudhir Dhawale, an activist, were granted release on bail from a prison in Navi Mumbai on Friday, after spending more than six years behind bars. The duo, both accused in the high-profile Elgar Parishad-Maoist links case, walked out of the Taloja Jail at around 1:30 pm, following the completion of bail formalities.

Their release comes more than two weeks after the Bombay High Court granted bail to the pair on January 8, acknowledging that they had been imprisoned since 2018 and highlighting that the trial in the case was yet to begin. The case, in which the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) has been invoked, had seen significant delays, including a failure to frame charges.