Milind Ekbote finally arrested in Bhima-Koregaon riot case

Pune rural police on Wednesday arrested right-wing leader Milind Ekbote in the Bhima-Koregaon rioting case. Ekbote's arrest was made after his anticipatory bail plea was rejected by the Supreme Court.

A senior police officer from the Crime Branch of Pune rural police said, "As soon as the Supreme Court rejected his anticipatory bail plea, we sent our team to his residence in Pune and detained him. After bringing him to the local crime branch office, the formal arrest was made."

Ekbote, leader of the Hindu Ekta Aghadi, is facing charges under the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act and under sections 307 (attempt to murder), 147 and 148 (rioting) of the IPC.

After a case was registered against him at Shikrapur police station following a riot between two communities in Bhima-Koregaon on January 1, Ekbote had approached the local court for anticipatory bail but his plea was rejected, following which he approached Bombay High Court, which also rejected his bail plea. He approached the Supreme Court but on Wednesday morning, his plea was rejected and he was picked by the police.

Before his arrest, Ekbote was questioned five times by the Pune rural police. But police officials had said he was not cooperating in the probe and hence, the police requested the court for his custodial interrogation. He will be produced in court on Thursday.

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• Milind Ekbote, leader of Hindu Ekta Aghadi, is facing charges under SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act and IPC sections 307, 147 & 148