Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta-led team penned Maharashtra affidavit

The Maharashtra affidavit in the Supreme Court on the arrest of human rights activists — Varavara Rao, Vernon Gonzalves, Arun Ferreira, Sudha Bharadwaj and Gautam Navlakha — was strongly worded to justify the state government move. But who were the ones behind the affidavit?

DNA has learnt that Additional Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta teamed up with Maharashtra’s Advocate on Record Nishant Katneshwarkar, Pune Commissioner of Police K Venkatesham and his deputies to prepare the same.

Despite holiday on Monday due to Krishna Janmashtami, Mehta and others assembled in New Delhi to discuss and complete the affidavit by Tuesday.

A state government official, who was privy to the discussion relating to the preparation of affidavit, told DNA, “It was to inform the apex court that these five activists were not arrested only because of dissenting views expressed by them or difference in their political or other ideologies. It was only after the police found cogent evidence with regard to their involvement in planning and preparation for creating a large-scale violence.” He informed that the state law and judiciary department was kept in the loop seeking their views before finalisation of the affidavit.

ADVOCATE ON RECORD

Advocate on Record is an advocate who is entitled under the Order IV of the Supreme Court Rules, 2013, framed under Article 145 of the Constitution, to act as well as to plead for a party in the apex court.