Activists’ arrests made on ‘cogent evidence’: Maharashtra Police to Supreme Court

Just a day before the Supreme Court hearing on the activists’ arrested case, the Maharashtra Police has told the apex court that the five activists’ arrests were made based on the ‘cogent evidence’, which link them with banned CPI (Maoists). The police were reacting on the PIL fired on Tuesday seeking clarifications on the grounds five activists were detained.

Replying back to the plea, filed by historian Romila Thapar and four others, the police stated that they have ample amount to proofs to prove their case in the court. These activists are charged with allegations to carry out violence, planned ambush against country and security forces.

The police stated, as reported by the Indian Express, that the activists were arrested not arrested due to their dissent opinion. They said to the Supreme Court, “Activists not arrested because of their dissenting opinion, there is sufficient material to dispel this impression.”

The police also challenged the plea and termed them unrelated to the Bhima-Koregaon violence case. Earlier, hearing the plea, the Supreme Court had announced house arrest for the five activists till September 6. It had also observed that dissent was the “safety valve” of democracy.

Soon after the arrests of five activists — Maoist ideologue Varavara Rao, lawyer Sudha Bharadwaj, activists Arun Fereira, Gautam Navlakha and Vernon Gonsalves — the Supreme Court observed the matter on Wednesday and ordered house arrest till September 6. The bench also ordered Maharashtra Police to present the evidence till September 5.

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