In a new development in Bhima-Koregaon case, Bombay HC on September 13 refused to quash case lodged against accused Gautam Navlakha in Bhima-Koregaon case for violence and for having alleged Maoist links. Bombay HC ted that re is a prima facie substance in case.

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Alleged Maoist Links

"Considering magnitude of case, we feel a thorough investigation is required," a division bench of Justices Ranjit More and Bharati Dangre said. It furr ded, " case is t without basis and absence of material," reported PTI.

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Bombay HC dismissed petition filed by Gautam Navlakha seeking to quash FIR lodged against him by Pune police in January 2018, after Elgar Parish held on December 31, 2017, that h allegedly triggered violence at Bhima-Koregaon in Pune district next day. police h also alleged that Gautam Navlakha and ors accused in case h Maoist links and were working towards overthrowing government.

" offence is t limited to Koregaon-Bhima violence. re are many more facets to it. Hence, we feel investigation is required," court said.

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After Bombay HC prounced its judgment, Navlakha's counsel Yug Chaudhary sought an extension of interim protection from arrest granted to Navlakha by High Court after he h filed petition. bench agreed and extended protection from arrest to Navlakha for a period of three weeks to enable him to approach Supreme Court in an appeal against HC order. Gautam Navlakha and or accused were booked under provisions of Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) and Indian Penal Code. Navlakha's lawyer Yug Chaudhary h argued that accused was an author and a peace activist and was a specialist in conflict zones.

"He was in past appointed as a mediator by government of India when Naxals h kidnapped six policemen. He is in contact with Naxals but that is only for his books and or fact-finding research. How can this contact attract provisions of UAPA," Chaudhary said.

"Navlakhahas me democracy possible for those living on margins. Such a person should be cherished and celebrated. But government is persecuting him with charges like waging war against nation and sedition," he argued.

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Besides Navlakha, four ors, Varavara Rao, Arun Ferreira, Vern Gonsalves and Sudha Bharwaj, are accused in case. 

Bhima-Koregaon Violence

Elgar conclave was held at historic Shaniwar Wa in Pune on December 31, 2017, ahe of 200th anniversary of battle of Bhima-Koregaon.

According to police, speeches me at Elgar conclave aggravated caste violence around Bhima-Koregaon vill in district of Pune on January 1, 2018, in which one person, identified as 28-year-old Rahul Fatangale from Nanded, was killed and many ors were injured.

In vember last year, Maharashtra police filed a 5,600-p charge sheet at a Pune court. y filed evidence including purported seizures from raids on activists, letters, call record details, statements of police officers, and people involved in organization of Elgar Parish. It went beyond caste violence and alleged a Maoist conspiracy to st violent attacks, including a plot to kill Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Police h recovered some documents which talked about a plot to assassinate PM Modi in a way similar to that of Rajiv Gandhi assassination.

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