Maha govt gets ATS report recommending ban on 'Abhinav Bharat'

Maharashtra government today informed the Bombay High Court that it has received a report from the state Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS) recommending ban on right wing organisation 'Abhinav Bharat', the members of which were alleged to have carried out terror activities in 2008 at Malegaon.

The state government, however, said it needs some time to forward the proposal to the Central government for consideration.

The submission was made before a division bench of Justices A M Khanwilkar and P D Kode which was hearing a petition filed by a trust of the same name, seeking direction to the charity commissioner to cancel the registration of the right wing group, alleged to be involved in terror acts.

According to the petition, the trust had registered its name on January 29, 2002 with the charity commissioner and is involved in charity-related activities in the city.

However, in February 2007, another trust based in Pune, got itself registered under the same name.

The bench today expressed its disapproval over the state government's failure to file an affidavit clarifying its stand, despite being directed to do so last year itself.

The court has directed the government to file its reply by October 12.

During the hearing, the court also suggested the petitioner to consider changing its name as even if the other outfit was deregistered, the name might still continue to cause confusion and bring disrepute to the petitioner trust.