The Pune Police have sought more time to file the chargesheet against Surendra Gadling, lawyer, and four other activists arrested on June 6 for their alleged links to banned Maoist outfits and role in the violence at Bhima Koregaon on January 1.
The accused have been charged with provision of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA).
Rohan Nahar, advocate appearing on behalf of the accused, said, “We received a copy of the application today [Saturday]. The matter is scheduled to be heard on Sunday at the Pune sessions court.”
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90-day timeframe
Under the UAPA, the police need to file a chargesheet within 90 days of the arrest, failing which the accused have the right to apply for bail.
On June 6, the Pune police arrested Mr. Gadling, Shoma Sen, Sudhir Dhawale, Mahesh Raut and Rona Wilson.
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The deadline for filing the chargesheet against them is September 5. “Under the pretext of finding fresh evidence, the Pune police will appeal for more time to file the chargesheet in the previous case. The [August 29] arrests [of five other activists] are nothing but a tactic to divert attention from the investigations under way against the Sanatan Sanstha and to prolong the current case against human rights activists,” said Susan Abraham, advocate and wife of Vernon Gonsalves, who was arrested for alleged Maoist links.
On August 29, the Pune police searched the homes of nine rights activists and lawyers and arrested Mr. Gonsalves and Arun Ferreira in Mumbai, Gautam Navlakha in New Delhi, Sudha Bharadwaj in Faridabad, and Varavara Rao in Hyderabad.
On Friday, at a press conference, the Maharashtra police said they had fresh evidence, including of a plot to assassinate the Prime Minister, against the accused.