The Supreme Court on Friday, 28 September, ruled that the activists in the Bhima Koregaon case will continue being under house arrest for four more weeks. The SC pronounced a 2:1 verdict on a plea by historian Romila Thapar and others seeking the immediate release of the five human rights activists.
The plea also sought a probe into their arrest by a Special Investigation Team (SIT).
- Justice AM Khanwilkar said the accused persons cannot choose which investigating agencies should investigate
- Justice DY Chandrachud was in dissent of the judgment, and said that an SIT probe was required
- The five were arrested on 28 August due to an alleged role in the Elgaar Parishad meeting
- The five activists – Varavara Rao, Arun Ferreira, Vernon Gonsalves, Sudha Bharadwaj and Gautam Navlakha are under arrest since 29 August
Petitioners Hold Press Conference on Arrested Activists' Extended House Arrest
The petitioners in the Bhima Koregaon violence case, on Friday, held a press conference in New Delhi after the Supreme Court extended the house arrest of the five activists accused of inciting violence.
Speaking to the media, they said that their aim was to draw the attention of the judiciary to the ‘gross’ misuse of the state’s powers.
Our history shows that if such misuse of power goes unnoticed, such issues cause a great injustice and endangers the liberty of all Indians.
Women Against Sexual Violence and State Repression (WSS), an NGO, also released a statement saying that the court has failed to do its duty as a constitutional arbitrator and as the vanguard of the fundamental rights under.
The Court in its vague majority judgement has failed to do its duty as a Constitutional Arbitrator and as the vanguard of the fundamental rights under Articles 14, 19 and 21 of the Constitution of India to protect the liberty of the dissenting activists - who have been arrested by the Pune police which unabashedly flouted due process.WSS Statement
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Supreme Court The Final Authority: Congress Spokesperson Randeep Surjewala
Congress Spokesperson Randeep Surjewala while addressing the media said that the Supreme Court is the final authority on the matter. He hoped that the police acted in the interests of the nation and not on the direction of Amit Shah.
BJP's Sambit Patra Intensifies Attack on Rahul Gandhi
BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra attacked Rahul Gandhi for supporting the activists.
“This verdict is a loss and an indictment of the Congress. Rahul Gandhi was acting as an advocate for these arrested Maoists, so this judgment apart from exposing the Naxals and Maoists of the country has exposed Rahul Gandhi,” he said.
Congress Supports Maoists, Fake Activists: Amit Shah's Sharp Retort to Rahul Gandhi
Attacking the Congress for its alleged support to Maoists, fake activists and corrupt elements, BJP president Amit Shah Friday said "there is only one place for idiocy and it's called the Congress."
Shah was responding to a tweet posted by Congress president Rahul Gandhi on 28 August.