Bhima Koregaon case: Pune police seek 90-day time to file charge sheet against 4 accused arrested in August

The Pune police on Saturday sought a 90-day extension in a Session court for filling charge sheet against the four persons arrested from across India in August for their alleged role in organising the Elgar Parishad at Shaniwarwada on December 31, a day before January 1 clashes in Maharashtra's Bhima Koregaon village. Those accused include Sudha Bhardwaj, Arun Ferreira, Vernon Gonsalves and Varavara Rao. The last date for filling the nomination is november 25. The court has posted the matter for further hearing on November 26. Earlier on Thursday, the Bombay High Court extended the interim protection from arrest to Human rights activist Gautam Navlakha, the another accused in the Bhima Koregaon case.

"Bhima Koregaon Case: Pune Police moves an application in Sessions Court seeking extension of 90 days-time to file charge sheet against 4 accused Sudha Bhardwaj, Arun Ferreira, Vernon Gonsalves, Varavara Rao. 25 Nov is last date for filing charge sheet & 26 Nov is fixed for hearing," the news agency ANI reported.

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Bhima Koregaon Case: Pune Police moves an application in Sessions Court seeking extension of 90 days time to file chargesheet against 4 accused Sudha Bhardwaj, Arun Ferreira, Vernon Gonsalves, Varavara Rao. 25 Nov is last date for filing chargesheet & 26 Nov is fixed for hearing

— ANI (@ANI) November 23, 2018

Varavara Rao, the social activist and revolutionary writer was arrested from his Hyderabad residence after his house arrest term ended on November 18. Rao along with four other detained activists was under in-house arrest following a Supreme Court order on August 29.

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On November 15, the police filed a charge sheet against activists Surendra Gadling, Mahesh Raut, Shoma Sen, Rona Wilson and Sudhir Dhavale for their alleged Maoist activity is Maharashtra's Bhima Koregaon village. These five had been arrested on June 6.

Bhima Koregaon case refers to the violence that broke out following an annual celebratory gathering at Maharashtra's Bhima Koregaon village to mark the 200th anniversary of a British-era war. The police alleged that the activists had links with Maoists who backed the Elgar Parishad held in Pune on December 31, 2017. Next day, the Parishad allegedly instigated violence near Koregaon Bhima war memorial in Pune.

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The skirmish claimed one life and left several others injured on January 1, 2018. It is believed to be the assassination plot of PM Modi on the lines of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi. The former prime minister was assassinated by LTTE bomber Dhanu in 1991.