Bhima-Koregaon: police get more time to file charges

The Pune police on Sunday got an additional time of 90 days to file charge sheet against the five human rights activists arrested on June 6 for alleged links with banned CPI (Maoist).

The accused, General Secretary of Indian Association of People’s Lawyers Surendra Gadling, Nagpur University Head of English Department Professor Shoma Sen, Vidrohi Editor Sudhir Dhawale, Committee for the Release of Political Prisoners (CORPP)’s Public Relations Secretary Rona Wilson and anti-displacement activist from Bharat Jan Andolan Mahesh Raut, purportedly wanted to create an unrest in the society.

The stipulated 90-day time ends on Monday. Hence, on Saturday, the Pune police told Additional Sessions Judge K D Vadane of Shivajinagar court that they need more time to file the charge sheet.

The defence teams led by Siddhartha Patil and Rohan Nahar, however, objected to it and urged the court to schedule the hearing on Monday.

However, prosecutor Ujjwala Pawar told the court that since the investigation officer, Assistant Commissioner of Police Shivaji Pawar of Swargate Division, had to go for the hearing in the Supreme Court, they would like the hearing on Sunday.

As per the norms, the charge sheet has to be filed within 90 days from the date of arrest. However, the Pune police officials said that since the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, has been invoked in the case, they can seek additional time to file the charge sheet.