Bhima Koregaon Violence Accused Milind Ekbote Granted Bail

Milind Ekbote, a prime accused in the Bhima Koregaon violence, was detained from his house in Shivajinagar in Pune on Wednesday.

(Photo courtesy: Twitter/@bombayinformer)

Milind Ekbote, accused of instigating Bhima Koregaon violence on 1 January, has been granted bail by a Pune sessions court against a bond of Rs 25,000, reported ANI.

Ekbote was accused of instigating violence against Dalits at Bhima Koregaon and had been arrested from his home in Pune on 14 March, after the Supreme Court refused to grant him anticipatory bail. The pleaders in the case had completed their arguments on Tuesday, reported Hindustan Times.

On 1 January 2018, activists carrying saffron flags attacked people gathered at Bhima Koregaon. One person died in the violence, while many others were injured. Dalits had gathered in Bhima Koregaon, about 40 km from Pune city, to commemorate a 200-year-old battle when a Dalit dominated British Army had defeated the Peshwas in Maharashtra.

Dalit leaders and workers present at the site alleged that Ekbote and Sambhaji Bhide had instigated the violence, reported Scroll.