Maharashtra govt withdrew three 2008 cases against Bhima Koregaon accused Sambhaji Bhide, reveals RTI query

Mumbai: The Maharashtra government has dropped three decade-old cases against Sambhaji Bhide, a Mumbai-based Right to Information (RTI) activist has claimed. Bhide, also a suspect in the Bhima Koregaon violence, is the founder of Shri Shivpratishthan, Hindusthan, which identifies itself a cultural organisation. [caption id=“attachment_4289393” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Screengrab of Sambhaji Bhide. Tv9 Gujarati[/caption] Activist Shakeel Ahmed Sheikh, who filed the RTI in the matter, said that after coming to power in 2014, the Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis-led government withdrew three cases against Bhide, which were filed in 2008 for allegedly vandalising cinema halls screening the movie, Jodhaa Akbar. Earlier this year, Sheikh filed the RTI seeking information on the number of cases withdrawn against politicians, their party workers and the common man. “I filed an RTI on 4 March seeking information on how many cases against political leaders and their supporters were withdrawn since 2008. Three cases against Bhima Koregaon violence accused Sambhaji Bhide were withdrawn and nine cases against the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Shiv Sena leaders were withdrawn,” the activist said. Sheikh further alleged that most of the people, whose cases were withdrawn by the state government since 2014 till now, were accused of rioting and damaging public property. Meanwhile, Pune Superintendent of Police Sandeep Patil said, “No charges against Bhide and others have been removed so far in the Bhima Koregaon violence case, and the investigation is still in progress.” Earlier this year, Bhide allegedly instigated violence during the 200th anniversary celebrations of the Bhima Koregaon battle. During the clashes in the Pune district on 1 January, one person was killed, while many others were left injured. Bhide, however, has denied the allegations.