Baroda dynamite case
Encyclopedia
Baroda dynamite case is the term used for the criminal case launched by Indira Gandhi
government in India
in Indian Emergency (1975 - 77)
against the opposition leader George Fernandes
and others.
The CBI
charged George and others on charges of smuggling dynamite to blow up government establishments and railway tracks in protest against the state of emergency. They were also charged with waging war against the state to overawe and overthrow the government.
The accused were arrested in June 1976 and imprisoned.
The Case saw the main accused Fernandes emerge as one of the inspiring symbols of resistance against an authoritarian regime of Indira Gandhi
. The other prominent accused were Viren J. Shah
, Madhu Limaye
, M.S.Apparao, Madhu Dandavate
, Snehalata Reddy and others. Fernandes many years later claimed he was given shelter and assistance by M. Karunanidhi
.
The case was tried in Delhi, the CBI
justifying the action on the ground that even though the site of the incident was Baroda, the case had national ramifications.
Fernandes fought the 1977 Lok Sabha
election from Muzaffarpur
in Bihar
while in jail as an under trial in the case. He swept the polls with his supporters campaigning with his photo in prison cage and chains.
Janata Party
withdrew the case on coming to power in 1977 and all accused were released.
Indira Gandhi
Indira Priyadarshini Gandhara was an Indian politician who served as the third Prime Minister of India for three consecutive terms and a fourth term . She was assassinated by Sikh extremists...
government in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
in Indian Emergency (1975 - 77)
Indian Emergency (1975 - 77)
The Indian Emergency of 25 June 1975 – 21 March 1977 was a 21-month period, when President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed, upon advice by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, declared a state of emergency under Article 352 of the Constitution of India, effectively bestowing on her the power to rule by decree,...
against the opposition leader George Fernandes
George Fernandes
George Mathew Fernandes is an Indian trade unionist, politician, journalist, agriculturist, and member of Rajya Sabha from Bihar. He is a key member of the Janata Dal , and was the founder of the Samata Party...
and others.
The CBI
Central Bureau of Investigation
The Central Bureau of Investigation is a government agency of India that serves as a criminal investigation body, national security agency and intelligence agency. It was established on 1 April 1963 and evolved from the Special Police Establishment founded in 1941...
charged George and others on charges of smuggling dynamite to blow up government establishments and railway tracks in protest against the state of emergency. They were also charged with waging war against the state to overawe and overthrow the government.
The accused were arrested in June 1976 and imprisoned.
The Case saw the main accused Fernandes emerge as one of the inspiring symbols of resistance against an authoritarian regime of Indira Gandhi
Indira Gandhi
Indira Priyadarshini Gandhara was an Indian politician who served as the third Prime Minister of India for three consecutive terms and a fourth term . She was assassinated by Sikh extremists...
. The other prominent accused were Viren J. Shah
Viren J. Shah
Viren J. Shah is a former Governor of the Indian State of West Bengal. Mr. Shah is a Former Treasurer of the Bharatiya Janata Party. He was a member of Lok Sabha from 1967 to 1970 and of Rajya Sabha during 1975 -1981 and 1990-1996. Mr. Shah is Chairman Emeritus of Mukand Steel, a steel and...
, Madhu Limaye
Madhu Limaye
Madhu Limaye was an Indian Socialist essayist and activist, particularly active in the 1970s. A follower of Ram Manohar Lohia and a fellow-traveller of George Fernandes, he was active in the Janata coalition that gained power at the Centre following the Emergency; he, with Raj Narain and Krishan...
, M.S.Apparao, Madhu Dandavate
Madhu Dandavate
Madhu Dandavate was an Indian politician.He was born in a Deshastha family. He was popularly known as an Economist....
, Snehalata Reddy and others. Fernandes many years later claimed he was given shelter and assistance by M. Karunanidhi
M. Karunanidhi
Muthuvel Karunanidhi is an Indian politician and a former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. He is the head of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam , a Dravidian political party in the state of Tamil Nadu. He has been the leader of the DMK since the death of its founder, C. N...
.
The case was tried in Delhi, the CBI
Central Bureau of Investigation
The Central Bureau of Investigation is a government agency of India that serves as a criminal investigation body, national security agency and intelligence agency. It was established on 1 April 1963 and evolved from the Special Police Establishment founded in 1941...
justifying the action on the ground that even though the site of the incident was Baroda, the case had national ramifications.
Fernandes fought the 1977 Lok Sabha
Lok Sabha
The Lok Sabha or House of the People is the lower house of the Parliament of India. Members of the Lok Sabha are elected by direct election under universal adult suffrage. As of 2009, there have been fifteen Lok Sabhas elected by the people of India...
election from Muzaffarpur
Muzaffarpur
Muzaffarpur Town is a town in Muzaffarpur district in the Indian state of Bihar. It serves as the headquarters of Muzaffarpur district and Tirhut division....
in Bihar
Bihar
Bihar is a state in eastern India. It is the 12th largest state in terms of geographical size at and 3rd largest by population. Almost 58% of Biharis are below the age of 25, which is the highest proportion in India....
while in jail as an under trial in the case. He swept the polls with his supporters campaigning with his photo in prison cage and chains.
Janata Party
Janata Party
The Janata Party was an amalgam of Indian political parties opposed to the state of emergency imposed by the government of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and her Indian National Congress...
withdrew the case on coming to power in 1977 and all accused were released.