Bhima Koregaon violence: Criminal case filed against Jignesh Mevani, Umar Khalid

MUMBAI:The Pune police have registered a criminal case against Gujarat MLA Jignesh Mevani and JNU student leader Umar Khalid, accusing them of making “provocative speeches” that led to Monday’s caste clashes.

They have been booked for “creating communal disharmony” through their speeches delivered at an Elgaar Parishad held at Pune’s Shaniwarwada on December 31. The violent clashes had spread to several parts of Maharashtra, keeping the state on the edge for two days.

Mevani and Khalid have been booked under sections 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion), 505 (statements conducing to public mischief) and 117 (abetting commission of offence by public) of the Indian Penal Code.


Pune police officials, however, said the two would not be arrested immediately but would be called in for questioning. Prakash Ambedkar, who heads the Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh, called the FIR against Mevani and Khalid “motivated”. Ambedkar said he hoped that Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis would take action against Sambhaji Bhide of the Shivraj Pratishthan and Milind Ekbote of the Hindu Ekta Aghadi, whom he had accused of inciting violence.

“We met the chief minister today morning and he has assured us that the police would arrest both Bhide and Ekbote soon. He also assured us that the judicial commission that is investigating the Monday violence would have civil and criminal powers,” Ambedkar told ET.

He said the the judicial commission would be formed within a week. Ambedkar also claimed that Fadnavis had agreed to their demand that the Mumbai police should not carry searches to arrest Dalit youth who were allegedly involved in clashes during Wednesday’s bandh.