Why press conference when matter sub-judice: Bombay HC

The Bombay High Court on Monday questioned as to why the Maharashtra police held a press conference on the issue of arrest of activists arrested for Maoists links when the matter was sub judice.

“How can the police do this? The matter is sub-judice. When the Supreme Court is seized of the matter then revealing information is wrong,” the Bombay High Court observed.

The statement came during the hearing of a PIL filed by Pune-based businessman Satish Surgiv Gaikwad, who had contended that the probe of Elgar Parishad-Koregaon Bhima riots be transferred to the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

Last week, five civil right defenders and human rights activists - P Varavara Rao, Sudha Bharadwaj, Gautam Navlakha, Vernon Gonsalves and Arun Ferreira - were arrested by the Pune police for alleged Maoists links, however, the Supreme Court ordered all five of them to be placed under house arrest - after commenting - "dissent is the safety valve of democracy".

The next date of hearing in the apex court is scheduled for 6 September.

Last Friday, the Maharashtra police held a press conference in Mumbai - that was addressed by Additional Director General of Police (Law & Order) Parambir Singh.