Activists’ arrests: Policemen brief media, PIL filed in Bombay HC

A PIL (Public Interest Litigation) was filed in the Bombay High Court which sought action to be taken against Parambir Singh, senior IPS officers along with some other police officials who revealed details to the media about their case against activists who had connections with Maoists.

Singh, Pune police and the state Additional Director General (Law and Order) had interactions pertaining to this case, with the media on August 31. Letters exchanged between the activists were read aloud in front of the media by Singh during the press conference. He also made claims that there was, “conclusive proof” available with the police which linked the arrested left-wing activists to Maoists.

Sanjay Bhalerao, an activist claiming to witness the violence in Bhima Koregaon filed the PIL which appealed for action to be taken against Singh and the other police officials involved with him for revealing, “crucial and vital information” related to the case. The petition filed against Singh and co further sought action from the Maharashtra government against them under Article 911 of the Indian Constitution which states that a civil servant can be dismissed from service for any wrongdoing.

The petition on March 19 this year stated that an application was filed by the police asking for permission by the police for searching so that they could search the residences of these activists. The police asked that the application be heard in camera with the risk of the evidence being destroyed if the names of the accused are released.

The PIL said, “ The magistrate on March 19 allowed police’s request for in-camera proceedings.”

“Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Parambir Singh and other police officers, who were present at the press conference, disclosed crucial information with regard to the case. The police officers acted against the order passed by the magistrate court,” the PIL also added.

Bhalerao also alleged that there were politically motivated reasons by the probe conducted by the Pune police.

While hearing a different petition which sought an NIA probe into the case, the Bombay High court said that the police shouldn’t have interacted with the media especially as the Supreme Court had taken over the matter.

During a probe investigating an alleged Maoist connection with the Elgar Parishad conclave in Pune, activists Sudhir Dhawale, Rona Wilson, Surendra Gadling, Shoma Sen and Mahesh Raut were detained by the police.

There were also allegations made by the police that provocative and inciting speeches is what caused the Koregaon Bhima gathering end on a violent note.

The police also arrested five Left-wing activists-Sudha Bharadwaj, Gautam Navalakha, Varavara Rao, Arun Ferreira and Vernon Gonsalves last Tuesday. According to an order from the Supreme Court, these five activists will be kept under house arrest till September 6.

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