After dramatic arrest of activists by Pune Police, courts come into the picture

The arrest of five activists across five cities raises several questions which Pune police will have to answer in the coming days. The police ploy of arresting the activists instead of calling them for questioning has upset opposition leaders and many in civil society. At least two of those arrested, human rights lawyer Sudha Bhardwaj and journalist Gautam Navlakha, earned temporary reprieves from the Punjab and Haryana high court and Delhi high court respectively.

Who are 5 activists arrested for ‘Maoist ties’?

The Pune police FIR relates to the December 31 Elgar Parishad event to which police claim to have found a Maoist hand. In January, Dalit leader Jignesh Mewani and JNU student leader Umar Khalid were booked for allegedly making provocative speeches at the event. Subsequently, in June five activists were arrested and an alleged letter indicating a plot to assassinate Prime Minister Narendra Modi was recovered. However, doubts have been cast on its authenticity.

5 activists arrested: SC to hear plea asking ‘why’

The Delhi HC hearing saw the police officer who effected Navlakha’s arrest unable to give an answer when asked what the specific allegations against him were. It is Bhardwaj’s arrest that will be most contested. She has been an accomplished human rights lawyer for over two decades in Chhattisgarh. Her lawyers also alluded to Criminal Procedure Code violations by Pune Police in their habeas corpus petition. By high handed action police have hurt their own case.