The Bhima Koregaon Inquiry Commission has again summoned Nationalist Congress chief Sharad Pawar as a witness. He has been ordered to appear on May 5 and 6. A two-member commission headed by retired High Court Justice JN Patel is probing the violence that took place in Koregaon Bhima area on January 1, 2018. One person was killed in the incident while several people were injured.
The commission had earlier called Sharad Pawar for questioning on February 23 and 24. But Pawar had gone to the commission’s office on February 21 and sought adjournment of the hearing. He said that he needed some more time to file his reply. The commission’s secretary said Pawar had filed his additional affidavit a few days back. For now, we have sent them a letter of request. He has been asked to appear before the commission on May 5 and 6 and file his reply.
Pawar had also filed his affidavit before the commission in 2018. Regarding the Bhima Koregaon violence, he said that the role of the Hindutva group in this is doubtful. But in his affidavit, he said that he was not in a position to say with certainty which organization was involved in the violence. Pawar said that it is a pity that the government could not protect the interests of the common man. The involvement of right wing forces in this cannot be ruled out. But the investigating agency can say with certainty about this.
On the other hand, on Wednesday, the commission cross-examined the police officer Ganesh More who had investigated the case of Hindutva leaders Milind Ekbote and Sambhaji Bhinde. Ganesh More was posted in Pune Rural Police. At the time of the incident, he was posted as a sub-divisional officer in Dhaud. He retired in December 2018. He was cross examined by Advocate BG Bansode. He is representing Dalit witnesses.
It should be noted that Dalit activist Anita had filed a case against Bhide and Ekbote. He is accused of violence. Ekbote was arrested by the police. He is out on bail now. Whereas Bhinde was neither arrested nor the police filed any charge sheet against him.