Govt withdraws cases

Only serious cases will be chased

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday announced withdrawal of all cases, except serious ones, in connection with the violence at BhimaKoregaon in Pune district on January 1 this year.

While a total of 622 cases were registered, around 350 of them were related to serious offences, the chief min- ister told the

Upper House of the State legislature on Tuesday.

However, the government will not withdraw the cases against history-sheeters who took advantage of the situation and indulged in looting, the chief minister clarified.

The chief minister denied the Opposition’s allegation that the government didn’t act immediately against Milind Ekbote, chief of Samasta Hindu Ekta Aghadi, after the violence and allowed him to roam free.

The police raided all hotels and lodges in Pune and Kolhapur in search of Ekbote. Combing operations were conducted, Ekbote’s followers were detained and more than 100 call records were examined to track down the accused. ‘’However, they failed to locate him,” Fadnavis said.

“In the meantime, Ekbote secured anticipatory bail from the Supreme Court,” he said, adding that the Attorney General would be seeking permission from the apex court for his arrest and custodial interrogation.