In a recent development in the Judge BH Loya case, The Caravan magazine has found that a lawyer who was amassing information surrounding the judge’s mysterious death was on 6 March threatened by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’ cousin.
According to the report, advocate and activist Abhiyan Barahate was working to collect information on Loya’s death, when he received a call from Sanjay Fadnavis, who is politically active in Nagpur.
Over the phone call, Fadnavis allegedly told Barahate that he had come to know of the “big work” he was doing. He allegedly said that they (the BJP) would return to power in 2019, warning him to not to “complain” later when he is “picked up by the cops.”
According to the magazine, which has a transcript of the phone call, Fadnavis said:
We are coming in even in 2019... Then we will see what all will be done to you. We will see everything. Then don’t say later that I had to go behind bars… Police picked me up… Got f***ed in the ass… Don’t say all this later… I have some respect for your wife, that is why I am talking to you. Understood, a******?
The magazine reported that Barahate had been working to collect information on behalf of another lawyer and activist, Satish Uke.
On 5 March, Barahate had reportedly received details of Amit Shah’s protocol provision for his Nagpur visit dated 4 March via the Right to Information Act.
Barahate submitted a written complaint to the Commissioner of Nagpur on 6 March, specifying the “criminal intimidation through filthy language.”
The advocate said his path has crossed with Sanjay Fadnavis several times before, particularly during the 2014 Assembly elections in the state. Following this, the two reportedly exchanged numbers and met on several occasions, he wrote in his letter to the Nagpur Commissioner.
However, when Barahate began woking on the Loya case, he distanced himself from all those related to the BJP, The Caravan reported citing the letter. Barahate has reportedly worked for Uke several times before, representing him in the Bombay High Court several times.
Uke is currently working on gathering information related to the death of Judge Loya, who allegedly died under mysterious circumstances when he was hearing the Sohrabuddin fake encounter case.
The case pertains to an alleged staged encounter of Sohrabuddin Shiekh, and BJP national president Amit Shah is considered to be a prime accused.
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