'War And Peace' Book Row: Didn’t Mean to Suggest All Books Seized From Activist Incriminating, Clarifies Bombay High Court
The Bombay High Court on Thursday clarified that its remarks, attributed to Leo Tolstoy’s book 'War and Peace' by a section of media, didn’t mean to suggest that all the books seized from activist Vernon Gonsalves were incriminating.
Mumbai, August 29: The Bombay High Court on Thursday clarified that its remarks, attributed to Leo Tolstoy’s book War and Peace by sections of media, didn’t mean to suggest that all the books seized from activist Vernon Gonsalves were incriminating. It also emerged that Justice Sarang Kotwal, to whom the statements were attributed, was not on Leo Tolstoy's War and Peace but the similar-sounding War and Peace in Junglemahal, edited by Biswajit Roy. Bhima Koregaon Inquiry Commission Summons Surendra Gadling, Sudhir Dhawale.
"You have made your point about the books not being banned. Besides, yesterday, I was reading the whole list from the chargesheet. It was written in such poor handwriting. I know War and Peace. I was making a query on the entire list that police has mentioned (as evidence)," Justice Kotwal was quoted by news agency PTI as saying. The judge said he was "shocked" by the reportage and it was disturbing for the institution. Bhima Koregaon Case: Pune Court Orders Maharashtra Police to Provide Copies of Forensic Report to Accused.
During the hearing, lawyer Yug Chaudhary, appearing for one of the accused, also informed the high court that sections of the media (not IANS) had wrongly reported on the court raising objections to accused Vernon Gonsalves for keeping a copy of War and Peace. "The book recovered from Gonsalves is War and Peace in Junglemahal: People, State and Maoists, edited by Biswajit Roy, not the War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy," Chaudhary told the court.
On Wednesday, sections of media reported that Justice Kotwal asked Elgar Parishad-Bhima Koregaon case accused Vernon Gonsalves to explain why he kept “objectionable material” like a copy of Leo Tolstoy’s War and Peace and some CDs at his home. The judge also said that “such books” and CDs prima facie indicated they contained some material against the State, reports said. Gonsalves was arrested by the Pune police under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act after raids at residences and offices of several activists in connection with the Elgar Parishad case.
The police had claimed provocative speeches made at the Parishad on December 31, 2017, were responsible for the caste violence around Bhima-Koregaon village in Pune district the next day during an event to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Bhima Koregaon. One person was killed and others were injured in the violence.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 29, 2019 06:43 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).