India
#ElgaarParishad: Chargesheet to be delayed against activists arrested in June
The Pune police, on Saturday, sought 90-days time to file chargesheet against the five activists, arrested on June 6, in connection to the Bhima Koregaon violence. The five activists lodged at Yerwada prison are Shoma Sen, Surendra Gadling, Mahesh Raut, Rona Wilson and Sudhir Dhawale. Police claim the arrested activists are members of banned outfit Communist Party of India -Maoist. Here's more about this.
Police claim funds were used to instigate violence, disrupt peace
Notably, the police claim the banned outfit funded the Elgaar Parishad conference which happened on December 31, a day before the Bhima Koregaon incident. In an application to the court, police said Gadling and Sen gave funds to Dhawale and others to disrupt peace and instigate violence in Bhima Koregaon. Further, they said Raut ensured TISS students met underground Maoists to get training.
Around 25,000 GB data is being investigated
The application also highlighted details of CPI-Maoist material, which was allegedly seized from Roma Wilson. Police claimed the accused followed directions of "Eastern Regional Bureau meetings and circulars of the central committee of the banned organization" for criminal conspiracy. They said 25,000 GB data was being investigated, and probe into funds procurement, phone, email records, and bank account details was underway.
Here are the charges against the arrested activists
The accused were charged under Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), and IPC Sections 153A (promoting enmity between different groups), 505 (statements conducive to public mischief) and 117 (abetting commission of offense by the public). The court directed defense to respond to police's application on Sunday. The police also submitted details of activists arrested earlier this week, who have been kept under house arrest.
