The SC's statement lend credence to the larger conspiracy theory of the Maharashtra Police in accusing a set of activists for staging the violence as part of an agenda of banned terrorist outfit CPI (Maoist).
The probe into the Bhima Koregaon violence is getting "bigger and bigger" said the Supreme Court on Monday. The SC's statement lend credence to the larger conspiracy theory of the Maharashtra Police in accusing a set of activists for staging the violence as part of an agenda of banned terrorist outfit CPI (Maoist).
The comment came from Chief Justice of India (CJI) Ranjan Gogoi while dealing with a petition filed by one of the accused, activist writer Anand Teltumbde, who sought quashing of the FIR against him filed on January 8.
Refusing to accept the argument made by his lawyer Kapil Sibal who said that no evidence was forthcoming, the bench of CJI, Justices Ashok Bhushan and SK Kaul said, "The investigation is getting bigger and bigger. At this stage your prayer seeking quashing of the FIR is absolutely uncalled for."
Sibal said that no recovery was made from him so far to which the Court said that the investigation is still proceeding as the process of arrests and recovery was still on.
Considering that fact that the Bombay High Court too while turning down this prayer on December 21 granted interim protection, the CJI-led bench extended the order for another four weeks. This period was granted to facilitate him to seek bail from the competent court in the event of his arrest.
Teltumbde was mentioned as an accused along with the five arrested activists – Vara Vara Rao, Arun Ferreira, Vernon Gonsalves, Sudha Bhardwaj, and Gautam Navlakha. These activists had earlier moved the SC which allowed the case against them to continue. The police claimed that the petitioner along with the above activists was part of Elgaar Parishad. They were allegedly instrumental in carrying out the agenda of banned outfit CPI(M) by instigating violence. The material seized from the five activists was allegedly used to frame a case against Teltumbde.
Even the Bombay High Court while considering Teltumbde's petition had granted him interim protection on October 15, 2018. In the interregnum, the police neither called him for investigation nor seized anything from him. However, the HC ignored it considering the charge sheet and other material collected during the probe. Teltumbde now must either seek anticipatory bail or upon arrest, move the concerned trial court for bail.
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