The Maharashtra Government is likely to withdraw the cases filed in the aftermath of violence on the 201st anniversary of the Bhima Koregaon battle being observed on January 1, 2019. The formatting of the two interim reports submitted by a high-power committee comprising eight State cabinet ministers and the subsequent review of the same by the State’s Law and Judiciary department is complete.
It is only a matter of time before the Government Resolution (GR) withdrawing the first tranche of 158 cases is issued. The government is keen to send a message of peace to prevent a repeat of the violence that took place last year during the 200th anniversary celebrations, sources in the government confirmed.
Reports formatted
Senior officials of the Maharashtra Home Department said the two reports were submitted even before the Chief Minister made the announcement on withdrawal of cases in the just-concluded winter session of Assembly. But these had to be sent back to the panel since they were not in the appropriate format as prescribed by legal department. “We will drop the 158 cases which are petty in nature in a single stroke and are likely do it on the upcoming anniversary of the event (Bhima Koregaon),” said a senior Home Department official.
During the winter session, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had announced the systematic withdrawal of cases filed during the Bhima Koregaon violence.
Of the total 655 cases, 63 are serious offences that cannot be withdrawn. The rest will be taken back, he had said. The cases where ‘A final’ is submitted are 159, cases chargesheeted and recommended for withdrawal are 275 and cases under investigation and in process of withdrawal are 158.
‘‘We are in the process of taking back these cases,’’ the Chief Minister had said in the Lower House.
The proposed GR will also cover 543 cases filed during the Maratha agitation. Of these 314 are in the process of being withdrawn. Another 117 are recommended for cancellation but may be withdrawn in two batches, officials said.
The decision regarding cases involving serious offence in the Bhima Koregaon violence, such as the attacks on the police, will not be taken anytime soon.
