The Supreme Court directed the state government to submit the charge sheet filed against the arrested rights activists by December 8, and adjourned the matter to December 11.

Fashionable to make noise about personal liberty, Maharashtra tells SC

 

Surendra Gadling,Maoist,arrested
The bail plea application of Surendra Gadling was opposed by the Maharashtra government. (HT photo)

The government on Monday said it has become “fashion to make hue and cry about personal liberty” as it contended that in the case of Gautan Navlakha, accused of alleged links with outlawed CPI (Maoist), the investigating followed every procedure of law in proceeding against him.

The court today directed the hearing of Navlakha case in January as told the bench headed by the Chief Justices Ranjan Gogoi that he was not in custody.

The court, however, directed that the chargesheet filed against the accused, Surendra Pundlik Gadling, Sudhir Pralhad Dhawale, Rona Jacob Wilson, Dr and along with “translated copy thereof and a gist of the allegations made therein be filed on or before December 8, 2018.”

Saying that the conduct of required serious consideration, the police said though the writ of habeas corpus was not maintainable, Navlakha filed the same before the 

During the pendency of the habeas corpus petition before the High court, Navlakha and others moved a petition before the top court.

The court by its September 28 order while rejecting the plea by granted the protection from arrest to the accused for four weeks giving them time to move an appropriate court.

The said this in its rejoinder to the response by Maharashtra had moved the top court challenging Delhi order granting bail to Navlakha.

The top court had on October 29 issued notice to Navlakha on plea by Maharashtra challenging grant of bail to him by the 

The matter relates to alleged singing of “objectionable songs” and instigating comments, speeches sloganeering ‘Elgar Conference’ by accused Sudhir Dhawale and others at Bhima Koregaon ‘Shouryadin Prerna Abhiyan’ organised by Kabir on December 31, 2017.

Accusing the five activists of their links with CPI(Maoist), has alleged that they misled the backward people to infuse radical Maoist thoughts in their minds.

As a part of their policy, the members of Kabir Sudhir, Dhavale and others have made such instigating speech, at various places in Maharashtra that would “create enmity and violence in the society”, says the Maharashtra petition.

–IANS

pk/prs