Two Kabir Kala Manch members arrested after four-hour ‘wait’

For two hours,they sang protest songs and gave out audio CDs to the crowd near the statue of B R Ambedkar. The group,along with Prakash Reddy of CPI,film maker Anand Patwardhan and Bharipa Bahujan Mahasabha’s Prakash Ambedkar,went to Patil’s office at Mantralaya at 5 pm.

Seeing the crowd converge at his office,Patil called up ATS chief Rakesh Maria and sought information on the case against Gaichor and Gorkhe.

“We will have to follow the law and have to take them in custody. But we will ensure their rights are not violated while in custody,” Patil told the KKM defence committee,formed last year to facilitate the group’s legal battle.

Patil also promised that the police would seek only one-day police custody.

DCP (ATS) Pradeep Sawant officially took Gaichor and Gorkhe in custody at 6 pm. While Jagtap’s name is mentioned in the chargesheet,Jadhav,according to the ATS,has no role in the case. The ATS let the women return after taking down basic details.

Last month,Sheetal Sathe (27) and Sachin Mali (27),courted arrest outside Mantralaya. Both are in judicial custody at present. Like Sathe and Mali,Gaichor and Gorkhe are facing serious charges under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for their alleged links with the banned CPI (Maoist).

“A few notes have surfaced during investigations and the handwriting matches Sathe’s. We are probing their roles and letting them go at this point in time is not possible,” Patil said.