Special committee recommends withdrawal of 274 violence cases
Cabinet subcommittee to review before court applications
MUMBAI: As many as 274 cases registered in connection with the protests that followed the violence at Bhima-koregaon and the Maratha reservation stir have been recommended for withdrawal. A three-member team, which was appointed to review 654 cases, found many qualified for withdrawal as per the terms of reference laid out by the state home department.
“The recommendation for withdrawal has been made in the 274 charge sheeted cases in which the loss to property was less than the stipulated ₹10 lakh,” sources said, adding that the remaining 158 cases would be considered only after charge sheets were filed. As per provisions under the law, the government may approach the court for a withdrawal only after a charge sheet has been filed.
On October 26, the government instituted a three-member team headed by the additional director general of police (law and order) and comprising the inspector generals of police for law and order, and administration. The
team was to review all cases registered after January 2018’s rioting after the gathering at BhimaKoregaon and the incidents of violence during Maratha agitations in July and August this year. If the damage to private/ public is less than ₹10 lakh, and there is neither a direct attack on
police nor any no loss of life, a case may be recommended for withdrawal. The report containing the team’s recommendations has been submitted to the state home department, which will place it before a cabinet sub-committee before approaching the court.
An official from the home department told HT that the team scrutinised a total of 654 cases. Fifty-five cases pertaining to attacks on policemen, seven cases in which the loss to private/ public property was more than ₹10 lakh and one case of murder at Navi Mumbai were kept away from the ambit of the review.
Charge sheets have been filed in 274 cases while in 159 cases, there is either not enough evidence to justify a trial against the accused or the culprit remains unidentified. Another 158 cases are presently under investigation.