Mumbai: The Maharashtra government has egg on its face: the Bombay High Court on Monday demanded to know why the State police addressed the media on the arrest of five rights activists when the matter was sub judice. The bench said, “We are surprised at the press conference. How can the police do this?” “Isn’t the police aware that the Supreme Court is seized of this matter and that the matter is sub judice? Despite this, how can the police reveal information,” the bench remarked.
Just last week the Maharashtra police had called a press conference and produced several “incriminating” letters it claimed to have seized from the houses of the human rights activists. Incidentally, none of these letters which the Additional General of Police Parambir Singh displayed at the media interaction have been produced before the Pune court, where the case of arrested activists is being heard.
By this “unusual” move of exhibiting the “so-called” evidence, the Maharashtra police has invited the ire of the Bombay High Court. The observations were made by the division bench of Justices Sambhaji Shinde and Mridula Bhatkar during the hearing of a writ petition filed by a victim of the Bhima-Koregaon riots. The petition has sought a thorough probe by the National Investigation Agency in this matter. More so, since provisions of the Unlawful Activities Act have been invoked in the case.
The petition filed through advocate Nitin Satpute has highlighted the “arbitrary and illegal” manner in which the Pune police arrested the human rights activists. The plea has sought a stay on the probe till the High Court transfers it to the NIA. The petition has also sought action against the ACP of Pune police, who is currently heading the probe. The bench has issued notices to the Maharashtra police and asked it to file its reply before the next date of hearing. The matter will be next heard on September 7.