NCP Demands Bhima-Koregaon Probe by SIT Lead by Retired SC Judge

By: Kunal Chonkar

Mumbai: Alleging fabrication of evidences and manipulation of facts by the previous state government, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has demanded an appointment of a former Supreme Court (SC) Judge to lead the Special Investigation Team (SIT) to re-investigate the Bhima-Koregoan case.

NCP’s Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) Dr. Jitendra Awhad voiced the demand as he lashed out on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government to have ‘misused’ their powers to finish off the intellectual movement in Maharashtra.

“They (previous BJP-led government) misled the entire case by falsifying statements in the name former SC Judge PB Sawant and used it in their 5,600-page chargesheet. The former apex court judge has publicly refused these statements and attacked the then government,” Awhad said on Wednesday.

The NCP MLA alleged that a senior Pune police officer with an intent to pressurize junior judiciary, who was overseeing the Bhima-Koregoan case, fabricated statement of retired SC judge Sawant.

“The attempt was to influence the junior judge through the fake statements of Sawant. In such ways, they fabricated the supporting evidences as well and easily pinned the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s assassination plot on these arrested individuals,” claimed Awhad.

Also Read: Why was NIA Ignored by Pune Police in PM Assassination Plot?

Explaining the rationale behind the demand to appoint a former SC judge as head of the SIT, Dr Awhad said that entire re-investigation of the case by such an authority would set things straight.

“The individual (former SC judge) will have an unquestionable and unchallenged authority on all departments, officers, and the system. He or she will not be under any pressure or political interference. It is the only way to see how they (previous government) have presented one percent fact and 99 percent manipulation of facts to falsely trap these people,” outlined Dr. Awhad

The NCP under supremo Sharad Pawar has already urged Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray to drop charges against human rights activists and civil right defenders arrested in connection with the Bhima Koregaon case. Party MLAs Dr Awhad and Dhananjay Munde have been repeatedly voicing appeals to new CM.

Till date, the Pune police have arrested nine persons in the case. The nine individuals were arrested in the backdrop of the 31 December 2017 conclave of the Elgar Parishad in Shaniwarwada of Pune.