Mumbai, October 1: The Maharashtra government has dropped FIRs against 85-year old Sambhaji Bhide, a right-wing Hindutva leader Sambhaji Bhide alias Guruji in connection with the Bhima Koregoan Violence, a tweet by CNN News 18 informed. According to reports, the Devendra Fadnavis-led government withdrew at least six rioting cases against the right-wing activist on Sunday. Apart from Bhide, the state government has also withdrawn cases against hundred’s of his workers. However, Pune SP Sandeep Patil was quoted by ANI saying that no charges against Sambhaji Bhide and others have been removed so far in Bhima Koregaon violence case. Patil added that the investigation is still in progress.

Sambhaji Bhide has been in news for instigating violence with his provocative speeches. Bhide, who is the head of Shri Shiv Pratishthan, alleged that the roots of the riots lay in the 'Yalgar Parishad' (conference) organised by various groups on 31 December in Pune. On the complaint of Anita Salve, a 39-year-old social worker, an FIR was registered in Pimpri police station claiming that she had seen members of organisations led by Bhide and Ekbote participating in the violence in Bhima Koregaon. Bhima Koregaon Case: Supreme Court Says 'Can't Stifle Democracy at Altar of Conjecture', to Resume Hearing on Thursday.

According to reports, the information was revealed in an RTI report. The information adds that several cases registered against BJP and Shiv Sena workers have also been withdrawn by the government.  Bhide is no stranger to controversy. In 2008, he had led the protests against Ashutosh Gowariker's historical romance film Jodhaa Akbar and was booked for ransacking theatres and halting the movie screenings. Bhima Koregaon Case: Supreme Court Extends House Arrest of Five Accused Till September 19 After Heated Arguments in Courtroom.

The information revealed by the RTI informed that at least eight circulars were issued by the Maharashtra government. the circulars demanded the withdrawal of cases registered against right-wing activist Sambhaji Bhide, political leaders belonging to BJP and Shiv Sena and hundreds of their party workers.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 01, 2018 10:42 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).