Sangli riots: Mumbai high court seeks reply from police

The Bombay high court today sought a reply from superintendent of police, Sangli, in western Maharashtra, on a PIL which has sought CBI probe into communal riot that took place in the area in September 2009.

Division bench of justices JN Patel and SC Dharmadhikari has also sought information as to the probe of the riot-related cases.

Clashes broke out in Sangli and Miraj in September that year, at the time of Ganesh festival, over erection of an arch depicting the scene of killing of Afzhal Khan by King Shivaji.

Samit Kadam, the petitioner, who is a member of all-party anti-riot action committee, has contended that riots were incited by some people in view of the state Assembly elections which followed in October 2009.

PIL says that 131 criminal cases were registered in various police stations, but probe has been very slow, so CBI should take over.

 Court has sought reply from Sangli SP in four weeks.
    
Earlier this month, outgoing SP, Krishna Prakash, had stated that Mainuddin Bagwan, local NCP leader and then mayor of Miraj, was responsible for the riots.