Environmentalist on round-the-world trip freed on bail after arrest in India

Activist freed on bail after arrest in India

JAIPUR, India — A London-based environmental campaigner traveling around the world in a biofuel-driven bus was released on bail in western India on Monday after being arrested last week for illegally using a satellite phone, his lawyer said.

Andy Pag, 35, was arrested in the town of Pushkar in Rajasthan state last Wednesday after Indian army radars detected his satellite phone, said his lawyer, Prateek Kasliwal.

Pag was not aware that he needed to get a permit to use a satellite phone in India, Kasliwal said.

According to Kasliwal, police arrested Pag — a dual Italian and British citizen whose full name is Andrea Pagnacco, on charges of being a threat to national security and of violating Indian wireless and telegraphy laws.

On Monday, Judge P.K. Aggarwal said police had failed to provide any evidence to prove that Pag had illegally used a satellite phone or that he posed any threat to Indian security.

He ordered police to investigate the charges further and granted Pag bail.

Pag posted a personal guarantee of 40,000 rupees ($880) and is free to travel, though he must report back for subsequent hearings. A date has not been set for his next court appearance, his lawyer said.

Pag left London in September in a bus converted to run on vegetable oil and was chronicling his journey in a blog.

He has previously driven from London to Timbuktu in a chocolate-fueled truck and organized a London-to-Athens rally for biofuel vehicles called Grease to Greece.

On the Net: www.biotruckexpedition.com