Vishalgad violence | Was difficult to take immediate action against miscreants due to heavy rain, low visibility: Police to Bombay HC

Police said five FIRs were registered against 1,500 miscreants, including Ravindra Padwal, Banda Salunkhe along with Maratha royal and former member of Rajya Sabha Sambhaji Raje Chatrapati, who were leading the group. On July 19, the court had pulled up the police over the law and order situation and had summoned Gherade to explain the action taken.

A division bench of Justice B P Colabawalla and Firdosh P Pooniwalla was hearing a plea by residents of Shahuwadi taluka in Kolhapur district, seeking direction from the court to constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by a former high court judge to probe into the alleged violence by right-wing activists on July 14. The state has assured no residential premises of any persons in the area will be demolished during rainy season as per its circular.

On Monday, Advocate General Birendra Saraf, representing the state government, told the bench that none of the residential structures were demolished and only 94 commercial structures that did not have court’s protection were razed peacefully with cooperation of local villagers. Saraf submitted that the petition was in nature of the PIL and same should not be entertained and the petitioners can approach the Chief Justice’s bench.

“We are not concerned about others. As far as petitioners are concerned, are their structures intact or not?” the bench questioned, after which Saraf responded that no part of any structures for residential purposes was demolished. The bench then asked advocate Satish B Talekar for the petitioners to file an affidavit giving nature and status of their structures and if they were refuting claims made by the state government.

The police affidavit stated, “There were heavy rains on July 14, 2024, as a result of which fog was formed. There was low visibility and it was difficult for the authority to take appropriate action. Still, under this precarious condition, these authorities were doing their best to prevent the unwanted law and order situation near the Gajapur check post. We prevented the group of people (having sticks and weapons in hand) from entering the Vishalgad Fort area and they were pushed back… so they would not enter the Vishalgad fort,” the affidavit stated.

It went on to add, “However, on account of heavy rain, fog and low visibility, somehow few people (15 to 20) managed to enter the Gajapur village (not part of notified Vishalgad fort area) and caused destruction of some properties…The group was pushed away by afternoon and the entire area was vacated.” The authority said some police officers were also injured during rioting and stone pelting by the violators.

The police added that the miscreants took advantage of the fact that July 14 was Shourya Din of Veer Bajiprabhu Deshpande and tried to enter the Vishalgad area, leaving authorities confused whether to allow them to go to Pawankhind (to pray tributes) or not.

The police claimed that those who started pelting stones were chased and they dispersed and ran away from the fort area. The bench will hear the plea next week.