Bhima-Koregaon case: hearing to resume tomorrow, house arrest of activists extended for another day

A Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra, also comprising justices AM Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud, today examined the material seized by Pune police in connection with the arrest of the five activists – P Varavara Rao, Vernon Gonsalves, Arun Ferreira, Sudha Bharadwaj and Gautam Navlakha. The apex court will continue with the hearing tomorrow on the plea filed by historian Romila Thapar and four others.

Appearing for the Maharashtra government, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Tushar Mehta submitted evidence on behalf of the police and produced letters seized by the Pune police. Arguing for petitioners, senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi said that the letters cited by the state were unsigned, undated and were “clearly fabricated”.

The Supreme Court had earlier extended the house arrest of the activists till September 19. Maharashtra police had arrested the five activists on August 28 in multiple city raids in connection with the Bhima-Koregaon violence case.