India News

Bhima Koregaon case: Police chargesheet alleges Maoist plot to assassinate PM

Published

8 years ago

November 16, 2018

Bhima Koregaon case: Police chargesheet alleges Maoist plot to assassinate PM

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The Pune police chargesheet in Bhima Koregaon case filed on Thursday, November 15, in a special UAPA court alleges “conspiracy to assassinate the PM and to overthrow constitutionally elected government by way of procuring weapons and ammunition” by Maoists.

Also, said the chargesheet, the Maoists are trying to mobilise and incite Dalits and the Elgar Parishad conclave in Pune last December was part of this strategy and it “aggravated” the violence at Koregaon Bhima on January 1, the charge sheet said.

The over 5,000-page charge sheet named 10 persons, including five activists Surendra Gadling, Mahesh Raut, Shoma Sen, Rona Wilson and Sudhir Dhavale, all arrested on June 6 and currently lodged under judicial custody in Yerawada jail.

Besides, it named five “underground CPI (Maoist) operatives”: Dipak alias Milind Teltumbade, Kishan Da alias Prashant Bose, Prakash alias Rituparn Goswami, Deepu and Manglu.

The move came a day before the Supreme Court was to hear the Maharashtra government’s appeal against the Bombay high court’s order refusing additional time to the police for filing a chargesheet in the Elgar Parishad case.

On October 29, the SC had ordered a stay on the high court order after the state’s lawyer said that the five arrested activists will, otherwise, get bail by default.

On August 28, the police conducted raids at the houses of five prominent activists Sudha Bharadwaj, Varavara Rao, Vernon Gonsalves, Arun Ferreira and Gautam Navlakha for their alleged links with the banned CPI (Maoist) outfit. Three of them are under judicial custody in Yerawada jail.

In the chargesheet moved by Pune’s district government pleader Ujjwala Pawar on behalf of investigating officer, ACP Shivaji Pawar, before special UAPA judge KD Vadane, the police said, “Maoist leaders including…Rona Wilson and fugitive Kishan Da were conspiring the assassination of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and waging war against the country for which they were planning to procure arms and ammunition,” it stated.

The police cited several documents seized from the Maoist leaders to make the claim on Modi’s assassination plan.

The larger conspiracy of CPI (Maoists) was to overthrow the democratic system in the country, and the accused were working in that direction, the charge sheet claimed. It also enumerates roles played by Gadling, Dhawale, Wilson, Sen and Raut in “fulfilling the objectives and furthering a larger Maoist conspiracy to create social unrest and overthrow government by way of unlawful activities”.

It alleged that the Maoists supported and funded the Elgar Parishad in Pune on December 31, 2017 as part of a larger conspiracy to create social unrest and overthrow the government.

The provocative speeches and inflammatory statements at the Parishad contributed to caste clashes at Koregaon Bhima near Pune on January 1, police said.

Pune police commissioner K Venkatesham told TOI, “We have filed a 5,160-page chargesheet against 10 people for charges ranging from planning to assassinate lawful authority to being founding members and supporters of the CPI (Maoist); criminal conspiracy; promoting enmity; raising funds for the banned outfit and giving statements causing mischief.”

On the state’s appeal in the SC regarding 90-day extension for filing the chargesheet, Venkatesham said, “The proceedings in the SC is independent of what we are doing here. We have filed the chargesheet because we have completed our investigations.”

City realtor Tushar Damgude had lodged an FIR on January 8 alleging that speakers had made inflammatory speeches and provocative statements at the Elgar Parishad held at the historic Shaniwarwada on December 31, 2017. Police have stated in the chargesheet that organising the parishad was part of the CPI (Maoist) conspiracy “to divide communities and create unrest by way of distorting history and raising a mass uprising against the government. Focusing on Dalits, minorities, women, students and the oppressed class and influencing them against the government formed a part of this conspiracy.”

The chargesheet stated that Dhawale was fulfilling the Maoist objectives through Kabir Kala Manch, a Left-leaning cultural organisation, and was in touch with underground operatives Deepu and Mangalu for two months prior to the parishad.

Following the indication of a Maoist link behind the Parishad, the police had carried out simultaneous raids in Mumbai, Nagpur, Delhi and other places on April 17 and seized several “incriminating material” and electronic devices like laptops, computers, hard disks, pen drives, memory cards and mobile phones from the residences of the five activists, who were finally arrested on June 6. The police obtained cloned copies of material in the seized devices from the forensic laboratory and went ahead with their further probe.

The chargesheet stated that the five arrested activists are active members of the CPI (Maoist). Gadling and Sen raised funds for the banned outfit and for organising the Elgar Parishad as a part of the “Koregaon Bhima Shaurya Din Prerna Abhiyaan”. To keep the unrest alive after the January 1 violence at Koregaon Bhima, the Maoists provided Rs 5 lakh to Gadling and Sen through Raut, a former PMRD research fellow.

Raut also recruited two students from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences in Mumbai and sent them to the Maoist guerrilla zone in the jungles for arms and weapons training, the chargesheet stated. This came to the fore in the correspondence between Wilson and Prakash, it added.

Documents retrieved from Wilson and Gadling’s laptop and computer showed details of Maoist ERB’s decisions taken at a meeting from December 21 to 24. A central committee circular titled, “Present situation and our task”, was also retrieved from these devices and the same stated how terror activities were to be carried out for the struggle against “Brahminical” forces, including the BJP and RSS, by organizing Dalits, minorities, tribals and the poor class, the chargesheet stated.

All five arrested activists were working through various frontal organizations of the CPI (Maoist) such as the Indian Association of People’s Lawyers, Anuradha Ghandy Memorial Committee and Kabir Kala Manch, the chargesheet stated. Wilson and Gadling, in association with the Maoist politburo and central committee members, got Dhawale, Sen and Raut involved in unlawful activities and in organizing meetings attended by underground operatives, the chargesheet added.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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The award is part of this year’s recognition for police personnel for distinguished and meritorious service. Such honours recognise contributions in areas including investigation, crime prevention, public service, law and order and administration.

Nupur Prasad’s role in Sushant Singh Rajput case

Ms Prasad came into national focus during the CBI investigation into the death of Sushant Singh Rajput, who was found dead at his Mumbai residence on June 14, 2020.

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In 2025, the CBI filed closure reports, saying its investigation found no evidence of foul play, abetment to suicide or criminal conspiracy in the actor’s death.

Career across Delhi Police, CBI

Ms Prasad has served in several positions during her career, including assignments in the Delhi Police, CBI, Arunachal Pradesh and West Bengal.

Before joining the CBI, she held senior positions in the Delhi Police and became the first Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) of Shahdara. During her tenure, she worked on establishing the district’s policing framework following its creation.

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India News

Kharge, Rahul Gandhi skip Independence Day event for 2nd straight year

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Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi skipped the 80th Independence Day celebrations at Delhi’s Red Fort for the second consecutive year.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the Independence Day celebrations at the historic venue on Saturday.

The absence of the two senior Congress leaders comes amid strained relations between the ruling party and the Opposition, which further deteriorated during the Monsoon Session of Parliament that concluded on Thursday.

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The session began on July 20, with students marching towards Parliament on the first day. Twelve bills were passed during the session, while detailed discussion took place on only one legislation, concerning paper leaks.

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PM Modi’s Saptadhara Vision: 7 streams driving India’s next growth phase

PM Modi outlined “Shakti Ki Saptadhara”, identifying seven streams including manufacturing, farming, technology, defence, green energy and soft power.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his Independence Day address from the Red Fort on Saturday, outlined “Shakti Ki Saptadhara”, describing seven key streams that he said can drive India’s next phase of growth and strengthen its journey towards self-reliance and development.

The seven streams identified by the Prime Minister are manufacturing, farming, technology, Gatishakti, Raksha Shakti, green and blue economy, and soft power.

Calling on the country to focus on these areas, PM Modi said the seven streams represent India’s strength and can help the country become more self-reliant.

Manufacturing as the engine of growth

PM Modi called manufacturing the first stream of Saptadhara and stressed the need to significantly strengthen the sector.

He said India needs to produce both components and complete products and should emerge as a key destination in global supply chains.

The Prime Minister highlighted cost, quality and scale as important factors for Indian manufacturers to compete globally. He also stressed the importance of attractive packaging and precision in manufacturing.

Farming and food processing

Agriculture and food processing were identified as the second stream.

PM Modi said global markets are increasingly accessible to Indian farmers and called for greater efforts to take agricultural products from farms to international markets.

He highlighted traditional foods, millets, spices, fruits and vegetables, saying these products should be developed into global brands.

Technology and innovation

Technology and innovation form the third stream of Saptadhara, according to PM Modi.

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Referring to the country’s experience with UPI and Digital Public Infrastructure, PM Modi said India has already demonstrated its technological capabilities and must now take the next leap in next-generation communication technology.

He also spoke about the goal of Made-in-India 6G reaching across the country.

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The fourth stream is Gatishakti, with the Prime Minister stressing the importance of speed and connectivity for India’s growth.

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He also highlighted high-speed rail connectivity between cities and port-led development as areas requiring greater focus.

Raksha Shakti and self-reliant defence

Defence is the fifth stream of Saptadhara.

PM Modi called for greater self-reliance in defence manufacturing and highlighted the need to develop advanced technologies in the sector.

He particularly stressed the importance of drone and counter-drone technology, saying India needs to invest in these areas.

The Prime Minister also said India should move beyond being a market for defence equipment and work towards becoming a global supplier by developing next-generation defence technologies.

Green and blue economy

Green energy forms the sixth stream of Saptadhara.

PM Modi called for greater innovation in green energy and said India should aim for global leadership in green hydrogen, renewable energy and energy storage while continuing to contribute solutions to global challenges.

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Soft power

Soft power is the seventh stream identified by PM Modi.

He cited Yoga, handicrafts, films, animation, gaming, digital content and the creative sector as examples of India’s soft power.

The Prime Minister also highlighted India’s potential to attract global tourists and called for greater focus on the country’s tourism opportunities, including its national parks and other attractions.

With “Shakti Ki Saptadhara”, PM Modi outlined a broad growth framework covering manufacturing and agriculture, emerging technology, connectivity, defence, sustainable energy, the blue economy and India’s cultural and creative influence.