The Centre has directed the Maharashtra government to withdraw a case against Binayak Sen’s wife Ilina for her alleged failure to inform the police about the participation of foreign delegates at a conference.
An FIR was filed against her after foreign delegates reached Wardha to attend a conference organised by the Indian Association for Women’s Studies and the Mahatma Gandhi Antarrashtriya Vishw-avidyalaya in January. Ilina, executive committee member of IAWS and head of MGAV’s women’s studies department, was booked under Sections 7 and 14 of the Foreigners Act. The police also arrested the owner of a hotel where some foreigners were staying due to its failure to notify them of their arrival.
“It is unclear how (Ilina) Sen was booked under the Act as (these) provisions apply only to persons who furnish lodging to foreigners for payment. The home ministry has requested the state government to withdraw the case against Sen,” an official said.