Explainer: Arsenal Report on Surendra Gadling

In light of the recent revelation that the documents on Surendra Gadling's computer, which has been used as evidence to arrest activists under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in the Bhima Koregaon case over the last three years were planted by hackers into the computer, NIHALSING RATHOD explains what the report containing the revelation states, and answers questions that may cross one's mind in light of this information.

——

RECENT forensic analysis has revealed that the computer of Advocate Surendra Gadling was hacked into for planting controversial documents prior to his arrest over three years ago under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 charges in what has popularly come to be known as the Elgar Parishad or Bhima Koregaon case.

This revelation comes from forensic analysis conducted by Arsenal Consulting, a U.S.-based forensic analysis company with over 20 years of experience in the field. Arsenal examined the hard disc belonging to Gadling, which had been seized by the Pune Police, and has given its findings with detailed technical specifications.

Earlier it had conducted a similar analysis on hard discs belonging to another activist incarcerated in the Bhima Koregaon case Rona Wilson, and given its findings in two volumes.

What is the significance of this report?

The Bhima Koregaon case is hinged on certain letters, which the police alleged were retrieved primarily from the computers of Wilson and Gadling.