Victim moves HC, seeks NIA probe in activists’ arrests
Amid the massive crackdown of the Pune police on human rights activists over the last few days, a writ petition has been filed in the Bombay High Court by a ‘victim’ of the Bhima-Koregaon riots. The victim, who is also a human rights activist has moved the HC seeking to restrain the Pune police from further probing the case and stay the investigations.
The plea also seeks suspension of ACP Shivaji Pawar, Swargate Division of the Pune city police.
The activist Sudhir Gaikwad (35) has sought directions to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to forthwith take over the probe launched by the local police against several human rights advocates and activists.
The petition filed through advocate Nitin Satpute was mentioned before a division bench of Justices Sambhaji Shinde and Mridula Bhatkar seeking an urgent hearing. The bench accordingly granted an urgent hearing and posted the matter on Monday. “It is unfortunate that the Pune city police investigating the alleged crime is politically motivated and not working fairly but with a malafide intention best known to them and arresting intellectual persons of the society, which are social rights activists, advocates, human rights activists, poets, writers and other respectable persons of the society,” the petition states.
“The police is intentionally trying to connect the alleged crime against these activists with the Bhima-Koregaon incident for which several FIRS have been filed against accused Sambhaji Bhide and Milind Ekbote. In the BhimaKoregaon matter, the Pune rural police itself has registered an FIR against Ekbote and has also arrested him,” the petition reads.
The activist has expressed surprise over the ‘concocted’ story of the Pune city police that the Bhima-Koregaon matter initially took place because of the even organised by members of the Elgar Parishad.
“The Pune city police is arresting activists arbitrarily and according to their whims and fancies, which is against the Constitution of India. It has raided the houses of various intellectuals and lawyers on the newly invoked provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act without any substantial material,” the petition reads. The plea further states that the NIA is especially constituted to probe matters under the UAPA and that the central agency is well equipped to probe matter under this act.
Activist Sudhir Gaikwad (35) has sought directions to NIA to take over the probe against rights activists. The plea also seeks suspension of ACP Shivaji Pawar, Pune police.