Bhima Koregaon violence: Relief from arrest to Gautam Navlakha, two others till November 21

The activists were arrested for their alleged involvement in the activities of the banned CPI(Maoist). The police, while investigating the role of this Maoist outfit in organising and financing Elgaar Parishad, an evening event on December 31 in Pune, claimed to have stumbled upon evidence of the involvement of these activists in the activities of CPI(Maoist). The police claim that speeches made at Elgaar Parishad had played a role in instigating violence the next day, January 1, 2018, when lakhs of people had gathered in Pune for the 200th-anniversary commemoration of the Battle of Bhima Koregaon.

Earlier, the court had restrained Pune police from arresting the activists until November 1. Stan Swamy was also granted relief till October 31. Lawyer Yug Mohit Chaudhry, who is contesting for Navlakha, told the court that the Pune police have arrested eminent people and distinguished scholars but no evidence has been produced before any court.

Last month, the Supreme Court had refused to interfere in the case and said that the Pune police could go ahead with its investigation. On October 1, the Delhi High Court freed Navlakha from house arrest, almost five weeks after he was arrested by the Pune police with four other activists.