Read Time: 04 minutes
The high court was hearing a petition filed by residents of the Vishalgad Fort area seeking a direction to constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by a former high court judge to probe into the alleged violence by right-wing activists
The Bombay High Court on Friday admonished the State Government and directed the Senior Inspector of Shahuwadi Police Station to be present to appraise the high court about the action taken against the persons involved in the violence at the Vishalgad Fort area.
“Who is in charge of the law and order situation in Vishalgad? We would like the senior inspector of the said police station to come before us. We would like to know, we are not blaming officers so far as to what action police took with reference to this case,” the court said
The division bench of the high court, comprising Justice BP Colabawalla and Justice Firdosh Pooniwalla, was hearing a petition filed by residents of the Vishalgad Fort area seeking a direction to constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by a former high court judge to probe into the alleged violence by right-wing activists.
Advocate Satish Talekar, appearing for the petitioners, showed a video of the law and order situation at the fort area, after which the bench came down heavily on the Assistant Government Pleader, PP Kakade, and said,
“Where is the law and order? These are not your (state police) officers, right? So who are these men? Are you not responsible for maintaining law and order in the State? We want to know if any FIR is lodged in this matter,” the court said.
Later, AGP PP Kakade made a statement before the court that during the rainy season, no structures will be demolished. The bench responded, “We record your statement that you will not demolish till September (rainy season), and if the same is breached, we will not hesitate to send the officer behind bars. We make it clear that if we find any structure demolished from today, commercial or household, we will come down heavily on your officers/ authorities,” the bench said.
The petitioners contended that, despite prohibitory orders proclaimed by the tehsildar of Shahuwadi, the police allowed at least 100 protesters to climb the fort. They claimed that this led to an atmosphere of chaos and lawlessness in the village for almost two hours.
Please Login or Register
