Bhima Koregaon case: 'Activists were trying to shield Naxals to kill PM Modi,' says CM Fadnavis on SC ruling; calls it Pune police victory
The Supreme Court on Friday refuses SIT probe in the arrest of five activists in Bhima Koregaon violence case and asks Pune police to go ahead with the probe. The court extended the house arrest of 5 activists' for four weeks. Speaking on the case Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said it is a victory for Pune police and country.
“We welcome the decision. On basis of investigation conducted & evidence collected by Pune Police, it has been considered valid & SC has said it'll not interfere in the investigation,” CM Devendra Fadnavis.
“SC accepted that there is no political influence & it’s not a plot to suppress the voice of the opposition. It is a great victory for Pune police & country. They've (activists) been doing this for many yrs but there was no evidence against them, so probe couldn't be completed,” he added further.
They were attempting to trigger a civil war in the country. They were trying to shield the Naxals and to kill PM Modi. Now everything is being revealed: Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis on SC upholds arrests of 5 activists in #BhimaKoregaon matter pic.twitter.com/9S577qTz3u
— ANI (@ANI) September 28, 2018
“They were attempting to trigger a civil war in the country. They were trying to shield the Naxals and to kill PM Modi. Now everything is being revealed,” Maharashtra CM added.
The plea was filed by historian Romila Thapar and others seeking the immediate release of the activists and also SIT probe into the case, that top court has dismissed. The five activists Varavara Rao, Sudha Bharadwaj, Arun Ferreira, Vernon Gonsalves and Gautam Navlakha, were in jail since 29th August.
The Maharashtra police had arrested human rights activists on August 28 in connection with an FIR lodged following a conclave -- ‘Elgaar Parishad’ -- held on December 31 last year that had later triggered violence at Koregaon-Bhima village in the state.
First published: 28 September 2018, 15:47 IST