Bhima-Koregaon violence: prime accused arrested

Right-wing worker Milind Ekbote, who is the prime suspect in the January 1 Bhima Koregaon riots in Pune, has been arrested.

Ekbote, 60, the founder of Samastha Hindu Aghadi, was arrested by the Pune Rural police after the Supreme Court rejected his anticipatory bail application.

Ekbote's anticipatory bail plea was rejected by the Pune District and Sessions Court on January 22 after which he moved the Bombay High Court, which too turned down his plea on February 1. Thereafter, he moved the Supreme Court, where his anticipatory bail application was rejected on Wednesday.

Eminent Dalit leader Prakash Ambedkar, the founder of Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh, had accused Sangli-based Sambaji Bhide Guruji, the founder of Shree Shiv Pratisthan Hindustan and Ekbote of fanning Bhima Koregaon violence.