Show cause notice issued to Uddhav Thackeray by Koregaon Bhima Commission of Inquiry over Ambedkar’s application

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 initially requested the commission to pass an order asking Sharad Pawar to submit a copy of this letter that had been given to Uddhav Thackeray along with related documents. But in August this year, Pawar informed the commission through his lawyer that he was not having a copy of this letter.

Then, on behalf of Ambedkar, his advocate Kiran Kadam had filed an application at the commission, with a request to issue a notice to Uddhav Thackeray for producing the letter and related documents. Accordingly, the commission has issued notices twice to Thackeray, asking him to submit the “documents in question”, either personally or through his attorney.

Commission’s secretary V V Palnitkar said no response was received from Uddhav Thackeray. So, advocate Kadam filed an application before the commission this week, seeking a bailable warrant against Thackeray to secure his presence for the purpose of production of the said documents. “Commission has issued a notice to Uddhav Thackeray, requiring him to show cause as to why the application seeking a bailable warrant against him should not be allowed,” Palnitkar said.

Commission’s lawyer Aashish Satpute said the show cause notice issued on Thursday directed Uddhav Thackeray to remain present either in person or through an authorised representative on December 2, 2025.

Meanwhile, the commission has now asked noted author and retired IAS officer Vishwas Patil to appear before it during the next hearing in December. A bailable warrant was issued against Patil by the commission as he did not appear for the hearing on October 27 citing medical reasons.

Commission gets extension till March 1, 2026

The two-member commission headed by retired high court Justice J N Patel was formed on February 9, 2018, for probing the Koregaon Bhima violence of January 1 that year in which one person had died and several others were left injured. Former chief secretary Sumit Mallick is the second member of the commission.

Initially, the commission was given four months’ time to conduct the inquiry and submit its report. But its tenure had to be repeatedly extended to allow it to complete its work. The latest extension granted to commission expires on October 31, 2025. The commission is conducting its hearing in Pune from October 27 to 30. “The state government has now extended the commission’s period till March 1, 2026,” said Palnitkar.

This is the 20th extension granted to the commission, which has so far recorded statements of over 50 witnesses, who include villagers from Koregaon Bhima and Vadhu Budruk, senior politicians like Sharad Pawar, Prakash Ambedkar, government and police officials and activists. Besides, lawyers representing different witnesses and parties have submitted their final arguments to the commission.

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