Bhima Koregaon Case: No Jail For All 5 Arrested; Supreme Court Orders House Arrest Till Sept 5, Says 'Dissent is Like Safety Valve of Democracy'

New Delhi, August 29: The Supreme  Court on Wednesday directed that all the five people arrested on Tuesday over Bhima Koregaon violence will be kept under house arrest. All five accused will be sent back home to be kept under house arrest till September 5. The court while pronouncing its order today observed, "Dissent is the safety valve of democracy. If dissent is not allowed then the pressure cooker may burst." (Here are Live updates on the Bhima Koregaon case)

The apex court was hearing the petition of eminent citizens - Romila Thapar, Prabhat Patnaik, Satish Deshpande and others against the arrest of activists Sudha Bhardwaj, Gautam Navlakha, Varavra Rao, Vernon Gonzalves and Arun Ferreira. The Supreme Court also issued a notice to the Maharashtra Government and other parties, seeking their replies by September 5. The next date of hearing in the case is September 6.

Earlier, the Delhi High Court, hearing the Gautam Navlakha arrest case, questioned the prosecution as to why an arrest memo was not given to Gautam Navlakha or his counsel. The High Court observed, "Every minute that a person is spending in custody is a matter of concern."

Pune police yesterday arrested five activists in connection with Bhima-Koregaon violence which took place on January 1 this year. Raids were conducted across five states on eight locations. Police were probing into Elgaar Parishad, a conclave that was held on December 31 last year in Shaniwada near Pune to mark 200th anniversary of the Battle of Bhima Koregaon.

Addressing the media on Wednesday, the Pune Police said that it had solid evidence against all five arrested. The police added that the five people arrested were linked with Maoists and were trying to spread terror in the country.

Political War Over Arrests

A political debate broke out soon after the five activists were arrested on Tuesday. Congress President Rahul Gandhi blamed the government for attacking those activists who are not affiliated to Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. “There is only place for one NGO in India, and it's called the RSS. Shut down all other NGOs. Jail all activists and shoot those that complain. Welcome to the new India," Gandhi tweeted.

However, the BJP claimed that the arrested activists had links with Maoists. Union Miniter Kiren Rijiju took a dig on the Congress president for supporting the Maoists. Rijiju tweeted, “As Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh had declared that Maoists are No.1 threat to India's internal security. Now the Congress president openly supports the front organisations & sympathisers of the Maoists. Keep national security above politics.”

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 29, 2018 05:15 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).