MUMBAI, Sept. 12 -- The Taloja prison authorities informed the Bombay High Court on Thursday that anti-caste activist Ramesh Murlidhar Gaichor, 41, arrested in connection with the 2018 Bhima Koregaon-Elgar Parishad case, was released on temporary bail on Wednesday night. This followed sharp criticism by the high court on Wednesday against the Maharashtra Police and prison authorities for failing to release Gaichor despite granting him three days' temporary bail from September 9 to 11, to visit his ailing 75-year-old father. The division bench of justices Ajay Gadkari and Ranjitsinha Bhonsale remarked, "We made it clear in our order that we are considering his plea only on humanitarian grounds. So humanity is now put to rest? Why was he not released? Is this merely harassment?" On Thursday, the authorities filed an affidavit tendering an unconditional apology for the delay and stated that Gaichor was released from prison around 11pm on Wednesday. The court accepted the affidavit and extended his temporary bail till September 13. Gaichor is among several activists and scholars arrested over the violence that erupted during the Elgar Parishad event at Pune's Shaniwarwada on January 1, 2018. Gaichor was apprehended on September 7, 2020. His trial court bail plea was rejected on July 1, 2025, prompting him to approach the HC. His request and pointed out that co-accused Surendra Gadling and Rona Wilson were similarly granted temporary bail earlier....