The Supreme Court on Thursday, 20 September reserved its order on the petitions filed by Romila Thapar and others challenging the arrest of activists. The court also asked parties to file their written notes by Monday.
Hearing the Bhima Koregaon case on Wednesday, 19 September, Justice Chandrachud had said that the court “cannot sacrifice liberty on the basis of conjectures.” He also told ASG Tushar Mehta to present one document that shows the involvement of the five arrested activists.
The apex court last week had adjourned the hearing on a petition seeking the release and an independent inquiry into the arrest of five activists till Wednesday. The apex court had also agreed to go through the material submitted by both sides.
- On 6 September, the top court had reprimanded the Maharashtra Police over their press conference, saying that they cannot make statements in the press
- The SC had directed that the five activists should be kept under house arrest until 19 September
- A PIL was filed against members of Maharashtra Police on 4 September for participating in the press conference
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SC Reserves Order on Petitions Against Activists' Arrests
The Supreme Court on Thursday, 20 September reserved its order on the petitions filed by Romila Thapar and others challenging the arrest of activists. The court has also asked parties to file their written notes by Monday.
Present One Document Showing Involvement of Activists: SC
Hearing the Bhima Koregaon case, Justice Chandrachud said one “cannot sacrifice liberty on the basis of conjecture.” He added that under Article 32, the court has to look at things with a hawk’s eye.
He also told ASG Tushar Mehta to present one document that shows the involvement of the five arrested activists.
The court came down heavily on the ASG and asked him not to produce seminar related document.
“One may not agree with them but doesn’t mean harmful,” Chandrachud said.
“Let us make a clear-cut distinction between an opposition and attempts to create disturbance, overthrow government etc..your documents also name universities, prominent social science institute. Are they all involved?,” Chandrachud reportedly asked the ASG.
Complainant Hires Former Attorney General Harish Salve as His Lawyer
Tushar Damgude, whose FIR against organisers of Elgar Parishad led to the arrest of five activists, is being represented by senior advocate and former attorney general of India Harish Salve, Firstpost reported.
Abhishek Manu Singhvi Demands SIT Probe
Abhishek Manu Singhvi – defending the activists – demanded setting up a probe by a Special Investigating Team (SIT) saying that the case is based on cooked up evidence and the letters produced before the court appear to be fabricated, Firstpost reported.