Koregaon Bhima Commission of Inquiry to summon presidents of six political parties

Panel to take their suggestions on steps that can be taken to prevent and tackle a law and order situation in a better manner in the future

3 min readPuneUpdated: Jun 9, 2022 07:12 AM IST

These political parties include the Shiv Sena, the Congress, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) and the Republican Party of India (A). (File)

Koregaon Bhima Commission of Inquiry on Wednesday passed an order to issue summons to presidents of six political parties in Maharashtra to take their suggestions on steps that can be taken to prevent and tackle a law and order situation in a better manner. These political parties include the Shiv Sena, the Congress, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) and the Republican Party of India (A).

The order was passed following an application filed by advocate Aashish Satpute, the lawyer representing the commission. The two-member commission, headed by retired judge Justice J N Patel, was formed by the state government to probe into the causes of violence in the Koregaon Bhima area on January 1, 2018, in which one person had died and several others were left injured.

Earlier too, in 2018, the commission had issued notices to all prominent political leaders in the state, asking them to appear before it and submit their suggestions and other information pertaining to the Koregaon Bhima violence and prevention of such incidents in the future. But only Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar had responded and filed his affidavit before the commission. Pawar also deposed before the commission on May 5 when he was cross-examined by the lawyers representing different witnesses.

Recently, advocate Satpute filed an application seeking an order from the commission to summon the leaders of other prominent political parties in the state. Satpute pointed out that as per a “terms of reference (TOR)”of the commission, it has “to suggest short-term and long-term measures to be taken by the district administration and the police in order to avoid recurrence of such incidence.”

Satpute stated that knowing the views of prominent political leaders on the points of this TOR would help the commission in submission of its report. Satpute stated that it was necessary to know from these political leaders as to what additional powers can be given to the police officers that would enable them to prevent and control law and order situations such as communal riots, political agitations and bandh in a better and effective manner.

The commission allowed Satpute’s application and passed an order stating: “Issue summons to the Presidents (of political parties) to attend the commission in person to depute a representative on their behalf.”

As per the order, political party presidents or their representatives should file an affidavit before the commission by June 30. The order further stated that the commission of inquiry will summon the person who has filed the affidavit to give oral evidence before the panel.

Chandan Haygunde

Chandan Haygunde is an Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, based in Pune. With over 20 years of experience in journalism, he is one of the region's most authoritative voices on crime, national security, and legal affairs. Professional Profile Specialization: He specialises covering issues related to Crime, Courts, National Security and Human Rights. He has done investigative reporting on incidents of terrorism, left wing extremism, espionage cases, wildlife crimes, narcotics racket, cyber crimes and sensational murder cases in Pune and other parts of Maharashtra. While working on the ‘Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) Fellowship on Tigers, Tiger Habitats and Conservation’ in 2012, he reported extensively on the illegal activities in the Sahyadri Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra. He is at the helm of the widely read weekly series “Pune Crime Files”. He is widely recognized for his deep-dive coverage of the cases related to the Koregaon Bhima violence in Pune and the Elgaar Parishad investigation. Key Beats: His portfolio includes covering crimes mainly under the jurisdiction of Pune City, Pune rural and Pimpri Chinchwad Police, along with the sensitive cases from the state, being investigated by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), and the National Investigation Agency (NIA). Background: Before his long tenure at The Indian Express, he worked with other Marathi and English publications, giving him a unique grassroots understanding of Maharashtra's socio-political landscape. Awards and Recognition: He got the CMS PANOS Young Environment Journalist Award in January 2014 for investigative reports on illegal activities in Sahyadri Tiger Rerserve. He received the award for outstanding investigative journalism by the Lokmat group in Pune in January 2020, “Missing since 2010, Pune youth a ‘Maoist Commander’ in Chhattisgarh”, which appeared on July 9, 2019. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) In recent months, Chandan’s reporting has focused on high-profile terror case investigations, inter-state firearms racket, leopard movements in Pune city, cyber scams and hearings of the Koregaon Bhima Commission of Inquiry. 1. High-Profile crimes and terrorism cases “Techie linked to Al-Qaeda preached democracy is against Shariat” (Nov 17, 2025). Reporting on the ongoing investigation into the arrest of IT professional Zubair Hangargekar (37) from Pune for alleged terror links. “The case against Jyoti Jagtap, member of ‘Maoist front’ Kabir Kala Manch and Elgaar Parishad organiser, granted interim bail by apex court” (Nov 20, 2025) Tracking the updates in the high profile Elgaar Parishad case related to the alleged naxal activities in urban areas. “How NIA arrested doctor turned ‘ISIS recruiter’ in Maharashtra terror module case” (Nov 24, 2025) After the arrest of doctors in Delhi Red Fort blast, a report on alleged terror links of a consulting anaesthetist from a Pune hospital. “A year after loco pilot averts tragedy by spotting gas cylinder on railway track, probe still inconclusive” (Dec 8, 2025). Report on the unsolved case of a suspected sabotage incident, which could have derailed a train. “No records of Sambhaji Maharaj’s cremation available: Author, ex-IAS officer Vishwas Patil tells Koregaon Bhima panel” (Dec 1, 2025) Reporting on a sensitive issue related to the Koregaon Bhima violence. 2. Inter-state firearms racket "Pune police swoop down on ‘village of pistols’ in Madhya Pradesh; 36 detained, 50 kilns destroyed" (Nov 22, 2025) "Recce a week before, microplanning: how Pune police raided ‘village of pistols’ in MP" (Nov 24, 2025) Reporting on the illegal gun manufacturing units in Umarti village, Madhya Pradesh 3. Cybercrime & Financial Scams “Pimpri Chinchwad police arrest ‘bank account supplier’ with links to China, nationwide cyber scams" (Nov 27, 2025) An investigative look at the modus opernadi of international cyber-gangs cheating high-earning professionals across the country ‘Your case linked to Pahalgam terrorist’: Pune businessman loses Rs 1.44 crore to fraudster posing as NIA chief" (Oct 18, 2025) Report on the tricks played on cyber scammers cheating people through digital arrest frauds Signature Style: The Investigative Hit Chandan is known for his ability to cultivate deep-cover sources within the police and intelligence agencies. His writing often goes beyond the "police version" of events, providing historical context and identifying systemic lapses. He is particularly respected for his balanced reporting on sensitive communal issues and his persistent tracking of the Maoist urban-link cases, making his columns essential reading for legal experts and policymakers. X (Twitter): @chandan_pune ... Read More

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