Omkar Gokhale.Before the Bombay High Court yesterday, the Pune Police made the controversial claim that civil rights activist Gautam Navlakha was in touch with banned organisation Hizbul Mujahideen and Kashmiri separatists..A Division Bench of Justices Ranjit More and Bharati Dangre was hearing arguments of the Pune Police in a plea filed by Gautam Navlakha seeking to quash the FIR filed against him in the Bhima Koregaon issue. Navlakha is accused of having links with Naxal groups..The police requested the Court to vacate the stay on Navlakha’s arrest, arguing that it is coming in the way of its investigation..Additional Public Prosecutor Aruna Pai, appearing for the Pune Police, sought permission to refer to letters that were allegedly exchanged between the co-accused in the Bhima Koregaon incident. The letters were part of documents in a sealed cover submitted to the Court last month..Earlier, the Pune Police had argued that Navlakha was associated with urban activities of the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist), and had helped in strengthening party cadre..On Wednesday, Pai submitted that letters recovered from the laptop of Navlakha and other co-accused prove that they were part of Naxal groups and were in touch with the banned outfit Hizbul Mujahideen..It was claimed that a letter written by alleged Maoist leader Sudarshan revealed that Navlakha met a leader of the Islamic students’ movement in Kashmir, and through him, conveyed support to Hizbul Mujahideen leaders and Kashmiri separatists..“Navlakha approached them as a representative of Maoist group and not as an activist,” Pai said..Opposing the protection from arrest granted to Navlakha, Pai went on to argue that other letters establish that Navlakha and other co-accused were in talks with the Hizbul Mujahideen since 2011 for supply of arms and exchange of secret information..“Their activities continued over the years through organisations supported by Navlakha”, it was submitted..Advocate Yug Chaudhary, appearing for Gautam Navlakha, denied all the charges, stating that they were fabricated. He sought a copy of the documents submitted in the sealed cover; however, the police denied the same..Gautam Navlakha and few other activists were implicated after the Elgar Parishad held on December 31, 2017 allegedly provoked violence at Koregaon-Bhima village in Pune on the next day..He was booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and provisions of the Indian Penal Code..On June 12, after perusing documents submitted by the prosecution, Justice More had observed that there is no prima facie case against Gautam Navlakha..The prosecution subsequently submitted more documents to the Court in sealed cover. After perusing them, the Court had said that there is ‘nothing secretive’ and that the same can be given to Navlakha. However, the Pune Police had refused to reveal them to Navlakha..On July 5, the High Court had granted him interim protection from arrest till July 23. On Wednesday, it was extended until further orders..The arguments will continue today.
Omkar Gokhale.Before the Bombay High Court yesterday, the Pune Police made the controversial claim that civil rights activist Gautam Navlakha was in touch with banned organisation Hizbul Mujahideen and Kashmiri separatists..A Division Bench of Justices Ranjit More and Bharati Dangre was hearing arguments of the Pune Police in a plea filed by Gautam Navlakha seeking to quash the FIR filed against him in the Bhima Koregaon issue. Navlakha is accused of having links with Naxal groups..The police requested the Court to vacate the stay on Navlakha’s arrest, arguing that it is coming in the way of its investigation..Additional Public Prosecutor Aruna Pai, appearing for the Pune Police, sought permission to refer to letters that were allegedly exchanged between the co-accused in the Bhima Koregaon incident. The letters were part of documents in a sealed cover submitted to the Court last month..Earlier, the Pune Police had argued that Navlakha was associated with urban activities of the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist), and had helped in strengthening party cadre..On Wednesday, Pai submitted that letters recovered from the laptop of Navlakha and other co-accused prove that they were part of Naxal groups and were in touch with the banned outfit Hizbul Mujahideen..It was claimed that a letter written by alleged Maoist leader Sudarshan revealed that Navlakha met a leader of the Islamic students’ movement in Kashmir, and through him, conveyed support to Hizbul Mujahideen leaders and Kashmiri separatists..“Navlakha approached them as a representative of Maoist group and not as an activist,” Pai said..Opposing the protection from arrest granted to Navlakha, Pai went on to argue that other letters establish that Navlakha and other co-accused were in talks with the Hizbul Mujahideen since 2011 for supply of arms and exchange of secret information..“Their activities continued over the years through organisations supported by Navlakha”, it was submitted..Advocate Yug Chaudhary, appearing for Gautam Navlakha, denied all the charges, stating that they were fabricated. He sought a copy of the documents submitted in the sealed cover; however, the police denied the same..Gautam Navlakha and few other activists were implicated after the Elgar Parishad held on December 31, 2017 allegedly provoked violence at Koregaon-Bhima village in Pune on the next day..He was booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and provisions of the Indian Penal Code..On June 12, after perusing documents submitted by the prosecution, Justice More had observed that there is no prima facie case against Gautam Navlakha..The prosecution subsequently submitted more documents to the Court in sealed cover. After perusing them, the Court had said that there is ‘nothing secretive’ and that the same can be given to Navlakha. However, the Pune Police had refused to reveal them to Navlakha..On July 5, the High Court had granted him interim protection from arrest till July 23. On Wednesday, it was extended until further orders..The arguments will continue today.
