Bhima-koregaon violence case: No HC relief for Teltumbde
MUMBAI: The Bombay high court (HC) has rejected the plea of activist Anand Teltumbde seeking directions to quash the criminal proceedings initiated against him by the Pune police in connection with the Bhima-koregaon incident. The HC accepted the state’s opposition to the plea on the basis of a confidential report submitted by it, enumerating Teltumbde’s role. The court has however granted him relief from arrest for three weeks so that he may appeal in the Supreme Court.
A division bench of justices B P Dharmadhikari and Sarang Kotwal was hearing the petition filed by Teltumbde through senior advocate Mihir Desai, seeking quashing of criminal proceedings against him as the investigators had not found any incriminating evidence to link him to the violence. The Pune police has been investigating Teltumbde’s role in the Elgar Parishad that was held a day prior to the violence at Bhima-koregaon. Desai had argued that Teltumbde was in Goa when the parishad was held and as the police had not found any documents from him, the proceedings against him should be stopped.
However, the additional government pleader submitted confidential documents pertaining to the investigation to oppose Teltumbde’s claims. She further said the evidence against the activist and other accused for inciting violence was sufficient grounds for the petition to be dismissed.
The Pune police during its investigation also arrested activists Arun Ferreira, Vernon Gonsalves, Sudha Bharadwaj, P Varavara Rao and Gautam Navlakha for their alleged links with Maoists. The police have named Teltumbde in the FIR.
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