Activists and legal experts on Friday termed the statements made by the Maharashtra Police on the arrest of five activists as ‘highly suspicious’ and a ploy to divert attention from other issues.
Advocate Susan Abraham, wife of one of the accused Vernon Gonsalves said the claims made by the police on the alleged plot to assassinate Prime Minister Narendra Modi were ludicrous and imaginary.
“This is just a ploy to divert attention from the actual assassinations of Narendra Dabholkar, Gonvind Pansare, M.M. Kalburgi and Gauri Lankesh, and the demand to declare Sanatan Sanstha a terror organisation,” Ms. Abraham said.
Retired Justice Suresh Hosbet of the Bombay High Court called the police’s disclosure of the contents of the letters as “highly improper”.
Advocate Suresh Rajeshwar of the Committee of Protection of Democratic Rights (CPDR) termed the press conference as a media trial since the police had not submitted the letters as evidence. “If they are so sure of the evidence, why haven’t they submitted it in the court of law,” he asked.
Ms. Abraham added the flashing of letters was a blatant breach of government resolutions and a Bombay High Court judgment.