Father Stan Swamy SJ was denied bail by the judge of the Mumbai Court of First Instance.

“We are saddened to share with you the news that today, March 22, Father Stan Swamy SJ was denied bail by the judge of the Mumbai Court of First Instance. We continue to pray and hope that justice will prevail and that Father Stan will soon be released and acquitted after a fair trial. We have full confidence in the Constitution of India and in the judicial system”, said Fr. Jerome Stanislaus D’Souza, Superior of the Jesuits in India, reporting on the negative outcome of the appeal presented by the lawyers appointed by the Society of Jesus, who followed the trial in the Mumbai Court of First Instance.

The appeal asked for bail, explaining Father Swamy’s innocence and pointing out his precarious state of health, which, according to the lawyers, requires at least house arrest. “We pray God to give us strength and courage to bear this painful verdict”, continues the note, which thanks the lawyers for their efforts and expresses deep gratitude to all those who are supporting the Indian Jesuits in this fight for justice. The Jesuits ask everyone to “continue your efforts and prayers”.

The 83-year-old Indian Jesuit Father Stan Swamy has been in prison since October 8 on charges of sedition. The Jesuit, despite his old age and a severe form of Parkinson’s disease, is held in Mumbai prison, where he is with 15 other activists and NGO members who are under the “Law to Prevent Illegal Activities” terrorism and Accused of complicity with the Maoist rebels. They had all campaigned for the rights of the Adivasi (tribal peoples) in the Indian Jhakarland, where the indigenous people are exploited by large landowners or multinational corporations, and their social and cultural rights are robbed.

The Society of Jesus has launched an international appeal for immediate release, affirming his full innocence and reminding the court of his precarious health. But all appeals to the Indian authorities, including those from three Indian cardinals who met for talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, have so far had no effect.