Government should name leaders with criminal links: court

The court had earlier stated that “it’s an accepted fact that the organised crime syndicate and terrorists cannot survive without police support or political patronage”. It had asked what Shiv Sena and its former member Rane did following the Vohra committee report.

The state on Thursday informed the court that it was unaware if any steps have been taken on the basis of the report because the committee was constituted by the Central government. Division Bench of Justice J N Patel and Justice Amjad Sayed then directed the petitioner to make the Central government a party to the petition.

The court had made the observations in view of an affidavit filed by Rane regarding the Vohra committee report.

Rane’s reply came in response to a PIL filed by Solapur-based Purushottam Barde,which says that Rane had made the allegations regarding politicians-terrorists nexus after the 26/11 terror attacks last year.

Justice Patel observed that the report had come out in 1993 and Rane was Maharashtra chief minister in 1999 when Shiv Sena-BJP combine was in power. “For 16 years if you were not able to do it,then you will never be able to do it,” Justice Patel said on Thursday.

The court pointed out that there have been numerous blasts after 1993 and organised crime survived due to political patronage. When it was told the Central government has formed a committee to study the report,the court said that they should identify the politicians involved. “It’s like the Liberhan report. Let the people know,” Justice Patel said. “We are waiting for action of all the commissions.”

Remarking on the dynasty politics,the court commented that the younger politicians will have to bear the stigma if their ancestors were involved in such activities.

The case will come up for hearing after six weeks.