Another pro 'Naxalite' event at Mumbai Press Club, three expelled for organizing gathering of Bhima Koregaon accused

On 27th April, 2026, the Mumbai Press Club, labelled as a 'naxalite hub', expelled its three members identified as Gurbir Singh, Bernard D’Mello, and Shrikant Modak for organizing an alleged illegal event on the Club's terrace that was attended by several accused in the 2018 Bhima Koregaon case. The Managing Committee took cognizance of the event and claimed that the conduct by the three concerned members had brought the institution into 'disrepute and exposed it to a legal risk'.

 

As per the press release exclusively obtained by Newsbharati, the decision was taken by the committee after a detailed inquiry into a gathering that was held on the Club’s terrace on 19th January, 2026. The attendees of the said event were Varavara Rao, Arun Ferreira, Anand Teltumbde, Rona Wilson, Sudhir Dhawale, Hany Babu, Vernon Gonsalves, and Gautam Navlakha, several of whom are accused in the 2018 Bhima Koregaon case.

 

 

Image- Mumbai Press Club/Gurbir Singh (Sakal/Facebook) 

A show-cause notice was issued to Gurbir Singh. But instead of responding through the internal process, Singh shared the notice publicly on social media, accompanied by what the administration described as 'inaccurate representations'.

 

It is believed that a few attendees, such as 2018 Bhima Koregaon case accused Gautam Navalakha, also attempted to influence the inquiry, disrupting the club's administrative and legal processes. He is said to have written to the secretary, 'urging' that disciplinary action not be pursued against the organizers of the gathering.

 

Around the same time, two online portals further published reports claiming that the Club had imposed a ban on 'human rights activists', a claim the Club strategically denied. Subsequently, Bernard D’Mello and Shrikant Modak, the other two expelled members, also wrote to the Club, acknowledging that they had convened the gathering to discuss just the legal aspects of the Bhima Koregaon case.

 

It is crucial to note that Gurbir Singh is believed to be a top-ranking Maoist sympathizer, mobilizer, and fundraiser. Being a close friend of the UAPA accused Anand Teltumbde, and founder of the Naxal leader Anuradha Ghandy Memorial Committee, he deserves NIA focus as flagged by Legal Rights Observatory (LRO). During the Bhima Koregaon riots, Gurbir Singh is believed to have optimally used his influence in the media to paint it as state-sponsored violence and to hide Maoist involvement, but the investigation by the Pune Police spoiled his efforts.

 

 

 

In the given case, a three-member Inquiry Committee was formed by the management to look into the matter. The committee, comprised of Chairman Rajesh Mascarenhas, Secretary Mayuresh Ganapathye, and Treasurer Saurabh Sharma, was mandated to conduct a thorough and 'impartial' investigation. Some attendees who attended the event on 19th January, 2026, are subject to bail conditions imposed by the Hon’ble Supreme Court and the NIA Court, including restrictions on interaction with co-accused.

 

As per the release, all three members, including Gurbir Singh, who is believed to have close associations with Maoists, were given a full opportunity to present their case. After verifying documents, reviewing CCTV footage, and considering statements from staff on duty, the Inquiry Committee concluded that Gurbir Singh, Bernard D’Mello, and Shrikant Modak had collectively facilitated a gathering that may have led to violations of bail conditions within the Club premises, thereby exposing the institution to significant legal and reputational risk, particularly in light of prior public allegations against the Club.

 

The Club, while commenting on the matter, stated that it had no intentions to impose any ban on guests of any member, but had to do so as a part of its duty.

 

It is important to note that the Mumbai Press Club has been in the news negatively for the past few years. It has been labelled as a 'naxalite hub'. Several films that challenge the country’s sovereign institutions have been screened and promoted by the club. The latest it screened and promoted in October 2025 was journalist Paranjoy Guha Thakurta’s film on electoral fraud, with the title ‘Maharashtra Manipulated? How elections were stolen in India’s 2nd largest state.

 

Later, the BJP sought state intervention into such events and demanded the arrest of Samar Mohammad Khadas, president of the Mumbai Press Club, also associated with the Maharashtra Times, a Marathi daily.

 

 

The Legal Rights Observatory had also lodged a complaint with the Press Information Bureau (PIB) and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, seeking to revoke the PIB accreditation card of Khadas and demanding an investigation. It was indicated that several anti-national activities were being conducted in the Mumbai Press Club.

 

Earlier, on March 20, 2026, the Club also received a threatening email claiming that several small bombs filled with poisonous gas had been planted inside the building and would explode. The sender identified herself as Neerja Ajmal Khan. She said that she was associated with the Naxalites and secret cells linked to Pakistan in Coimbatore, who were helping her to explode the building.