Bhima Koregaon: SC Refuses to Quash FIR Against Anand Teltumbde

However, SC did extend the interim protection from arrest, granted to him by the Bombay HC, for four more weeks.

Civil rights activist Anand Teltumbde.

(Photo courtesy: Youtube/@NLSIU Bengaluru) 

The Supreme Court on Monday, 14 January, refused to quash Pune Police's FIR against civil rights activist Anand Teltumbde for his alleged role in the Elgar Parishad-Koregaon Bhima violence and for his alleged Maoist links.

The apex court also refused to interfere with the ongoing investigation in the case.

However, a bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justices Ashok Bhushan and SK Kaul extended the interim protection from arrest granted to him by Bombay High Court, for four more weeks.

The apex court said Teltumbde can seek regular bail from the competent trial court in this time.

On 21 December, Bombay High Court dismissed the petition filed by Teltumbde seeking the quashing of the FIR and granted interim protection from arrest for three weeks.

At the Elgar Parishad event at Shaniwarwada in Pune, held a day before the 1 January caste clashes at Koregaon-Bhima, located near Pune, several activists allegedly made inflammatory speeches and provocative statements that contributed to the violence, police said.