Bhima-Koregoan violence: We can't arrest Sambhaji Bhide, there's no evidence, says CM Devendra Fadnavis

MUMBAI: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday ruled out the arrest of Shiv Pratishthan chief Sambhaji Bhide, who was allegedly involved in the Bhima-Koregaon violence in Pune recently, saying that there was no evidence against him. The CM asserted that he wouldn’t spare anyone, even “if he was from his own house”.

A woman, who has named Bhide in an FIR blaming him for the violence, has given a statement to the magistrate that she does not know Bhide, nor has she seen him. She has just filed the complaint against him on the basis of what people in Bhima-Koregoan were saying after the January violence, said Fadnavis.

He also said that the state has scrutinised Bhide’s call records but none pointed that he was in the vicinity or even speaking to the people in Bhima-Koregoan. “We have checked the call records of the last six months, but found nothing against him or his supporters,” said Fadnavis.


The Maharashtra CM assured that the investigation against Bhide have not been closed. “We are still probing the matter,” he said.

Fadnavis said that he had shared the same details with Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh president Prakash Ambedkar on Tuesday. Ambedkar has claimed that they have some new evidence in connection with Facebook posts that could shed new light on the role of Bhide. The CM said that the police would be looking into this new angle also.

Ambedkar had on Tuesday warned that if the state did not arrest Bhide within 8 days, then he would further intensify the stir.

Condeming the January 1 violence , Fadnavis said that it was a blot on the state’s image. “The violence against those who came to pay their respects at Bhima-Koregaon was wrong. We will take action against anyone who has even indirectly instigated the violence,” he said.