Bhima-Koregaon violence: Probe panel to record Sharad Pawar's statement

Maharashtra government-appointed inquiry commission will record the statement of NCP chief Sharad Pawar in the Bhima Koregaon violence case.

Mumbai: Maharashtra government-appointed inquiry commission, probing the Bhima Koregaon violence case, will record the statement of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar.

According to Ashish Satpute, inquiry commission lawyer, witnesses' statements to be recorded from August 2 and Pawar will be summoned as well.

Significant developments in Bhima-Koregaon violence case

Maharashtra government had appointed a fact-finding commission headed by former Kolkata High Court Justice JN Patel and Chief Information Commissioner Sumit Mulik to probe the matter. The commission was given a six-month extension after its term expired on April 8, 2020. The commission will now start functioning from August 2. Sharad Pawar had demanded an inquiry into the Bhima-Koregaon case following which his statement is to be recorded by the probing commission.

Significant developments in Bhima-Koregaon violence case

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Recently, Bhima Koregaon accused Stan Swamy passed away on July 5 in Mumbai's Bandra Hospital. He was 84.

On January 1, 2018, violence erupted at an event to mark 100 years of the Bhima-Koregaon battle after the Elgar Parishad event in Pune. The incident left one dead and several injured, including 10 policemen.

The police had filed 58 cases against 162 people during a state-wide shutdown in January following clashes in Bhima-Koregaon. Following this, on March 18, 2020, Bhima Koregaon Commission had summoned Sharad Pawar to appear before the Commission. The Commission was inquiring into the reasons which led to the 2018 Bhima Koregaon violence in Maharashtra.

(with agency inputs)

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