Bhima Koregaon Violence: Bombay HC questions police for holding press conference on activists' arrests 'when matter is subjudice'

On the rising outrages over the arrest of the activists in the Bhima Koregaon violence, the press conference held by the Maharashtra Police on the investigation of the case has surprised the Bombay High Court. The Court on Monday criticised the cops for holding a press conference on the arrest of the five activists and questions why it holds press meet when the case is subjudice.

While hearing a petition filed by Satish Gaikwad seeking an NIA probe into Elgar Parishad-- where the activists allegedly made provocative speeches which led to violence at Bhima Koregaon on January 1, according to an FIR, the court said how can the police hold a press conference when the case is subjudice.

Satish Surgiv Gaikwad is an activist who calls himself a victim of the violence in Bhima-Koregaon on 1 January this year. In his plea, he also seeks suspension of ACP Shivaji Pawar, Swargate Division of the Pune city police.

According to IndiaToday reports, Gaikwad's lawyer, Nitin Satpute, told the court that on one hand, the Maharashtra Police talked about making the trial in-camera and while on the other are reading out evidence (press conference) in the form of the activists' letters in public. The court's response: "They took press conference?"

"The Pune city cops have concocted another theory by saying that speeches made at Elgar Parishad conclave on 31 December 2017 incited the mob to cause violence the next day at Bhima Koregaon. The arrests of Sudhir Dhawale, Surendra Gadling, Arun Ferreira and others are against the Constitution of India and natural principles of life and justice," says the petition, filed through advocates Abdul Kader Millwala, Tosif Shaikh and Kumar Kalel, reported Mumbai Mirror.

The hearing was adjourned to September 7, as copies of the petition seeking an NIA probe weren't served to the accused.

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