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Journalism of Courage
Senior politician and NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar recently sought six weeks from the Koregaon Bhima Commission of Inquiry for replying to an application filed by Dalit leader Prakash Ambedkar in connection with a letter that he had given to former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray in January 2020.
In his application before the commission filed in February this year, Ambedkar claimed that on January 24, 2020, Sharad Pawar had given a letter to then Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray stating that the violence that broke out in Koregaon Bhima was a conspiracy hatched by the previous government under the leadership of Devendra Fadnavis.
Along with his application, Ambedkar had attached a news report, which stated that Pawar’s letter to Uddhav Thackeray demanded the formation of a special investigation team (SIT) to probe the Koregaon-Bhima violence and accused the Fadnavis government of protecting the conspirators.
Ambedkar had requested the commission to pass an order asking Pawar to submit a copy of this letter that he had given to Uddhav Thackeray, along with related documents. Ambedkar had also requested the commission that if required, Pawar should be called again to depose as a witness.
On April 23 this year, advocate Kiran Kadam, on behalf of Ambedkar, filed an application at the Commission, with a request to issue a notice to Pawar for producing the documents related to the letter.
The commission had then twice sent a letter to Pawar, requesting him to submit the “documents in question”, either personally or through his attorney.
When contacted, V V Palnitkar, commission’s secretary, confirmed that on July 24, Pawar had through his lawyer sought six weeks time to file his reply in this matter.
Special Public Prosecutor Shishir Hiray had opposed Ambedkar’s application to call Pawar again for deposing as a witness. Hiray had claimed this was an attempt (by Ambedkar) to create “sensationalisation” for political purposes and delay the commission’s work.
Hiray stated that Sharad Pawar had deposed before the Commission in Mumbai on May 5, 2022, and was examined by different lawyers.
Hiray also said that Pawar had himself never mentioned about a letter that was sent to Uddhav Thackeray — as claimed by Ambedkar — before the commission.
Meanwhile, the state government has granted yet another extension to the Commission till October 31 this year. An order in this regard was passed by Chetan Nikam, deputy secretary, state home department, on July 30.
This is the 19th extension given to the two member commission led by retired high court justice J N Patel.
The commission was formed for probing the Koregaon Bhima violence of January 1, 2018, in which one person died and several others were injured.
The Commission’s tenure had to be repeatedly extended to allow it to complete its work. The commission would now conduct its hearings in Pune around August 25.
