Several past riot cases against Sambhji Bhide – prime accused in the Bhima Koregaon violence in Maharashtra – were dropped by the state government, an RTI filed in the matter revealed.
The cases filed against Bhide and hundreds of workers of his political outfit, Shiv Pratishthan Hindustan, for allegedly vandalising posters of the Ashutosh Gowarikar’s film ‘Jodhaa Akbar’ were dropped.
The RTI was filed by Shakil Ahmad Shaikh, a resident of Mumbai’s Mankhurd.
On 28 February 2008, protests against the film carried out by Bhide’s outfit turned violent and protesters had allegedly turned violent and pelted stones at the police force. Police vehicles were also damaged during the protests.
According to DNA, cases relating to the matter were dropped by the state just months after the Bhima Koregaon violence in Maharashtra on 1 January 2018.
Rioting Charges in Bhima Koregaon Violence Not Dropped: Pune SP
Refuting rumours that rioting charges in the Bhima-Koregaon violence, too, were dropped against Bhide, Pune Superintendent of Police (SP) Sandeep Patil told ANI that the investigation is still underway.
“The investigation is underway,” he said.
Bhide, along with Milind Ekbote, the president of Dharmaveer Sambhaji Maharaj Pratishthan are prime accused in the Bhima-Koregaon violence that hit the cities of Mumbai an Pune in January along with several other regions across Maharashtra.
The Maharashtra police in March had arrested Ekbote for inciting violence.
(With inputs from ANI and DNA)
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