NCP and Congress together slammed Maharashtra government and the police department for the “delay” in the arrest of right-wing leader Milind Ekbote for his alleged links to Bhima Koregaon violence.
Either of the parties has raised question marks over the functioning of the police department in this case.
Hindu Ekta Aghadi leader Ekbote and one of the accused in the Bhima-Koregaon violence case were arrested by the Pune rural police earlier today shortly after the Supreme Court rejected his anticipatory bail plea.
“There is no bravery in arresting Ekbote as he was in Pune for a long time. He had issued a video clip…he was very much in Pune, but police did nothing. He was arrested today because the SC rejected his bail,” Congress MLC Bhai Jagtap said.
“It raises question marks over why the police took so long (to arrest him) and who were calling the shots,” he said.
NCP MLA from Mumbra in Thane Jitendra Awhad said, “It is a conspiracy and Ekbote was given a free hand to take every measure to avoid his arrest. The home department is headed by CM Fadnavis. It raises questions about his department.”
“The way people like Ekbote and (another pro-Hindutva leader) Sambhaji Bhide were roaming free…they were interviewed by news channels. Why didn’t the police step in and arrest them,” he asked.
“It is highly suspicious the way time was wasted in the arrest of Ekbote,” the legislator alleged.
Bhide and Ekbote are accused of inciting violence on January 1 this year during an event to commemorate the bicentenary of battle of Bhima-Koregaon in Pune district.