Urban Naxals case: Supreme Court extends house arrest of 5 accused till September 12

The Supreme Court on Thursday adjourned the hearing in the Urban Naxal case to Wednesday, September 12. The apex court also extended the house arrest of the 5 persons, who were detained after the pan-India raids conducted by Pune police. The Supreme Court also pulled up Pune police for casting aspersions on the court. Justice DY Chandrachud while slamming the Pune police, said, “ACP Pune insinuated that Supreme Court shouldn’t intervene, he has no business telling that.

Justice Chandrachud also asked the Maharashtra government to “keep your police officer in line.”

“He is talking to the press, insinuating the Supreme Court is wrong. We don't want your police officer to tell us we are wrong,” said Justice Chandrachud.

READ | EXCLUSIVE: Secret Pune Police Note Confirms ‘Kill Modi’ Plot

Earlier on Wednesday, Maharashtra government had filed a counter-affidavit in the Supreme Court over the notice that had been issued to it when the 5 people, detained by Pune police were put under house arrest. In the affidavit, the Maharashtra government, while hitting back, had said it was in possession of evidence against the politically-toned counter campaign, referring to the matter as ‘hounding of activists’.

READ | Pan-India Raids: All Accused To Be Put Under House Arrest Till September 6, Rules The Supreme Court

The Supreme Court, on August 29, had put the 5 persons detained by the Pune police under house arrest till September 6.

The recent detentions following the multi-city raids, namely of Varavara Rao, Vernon Gonsalves, Sudha Bharadwaj, Gautam Navlakha and Arun Ferreira, by the Pune police were said to be the outcome of the arrests made by the Pune police in June, and the information ascertained from them.

Earlier in June, Pune police had arrested Rona Wilson, along with Surendra Gadling, Sudhir Dhawale, Shoma Sen, Mahesh Raut and Rana Jacob in connection with the Bhima-Koregaon violence. After the arrests, the police had recovered a letter containing the plan of a Rajiv Gandhi type assassination plot for Prime Minister Modi, from Wilson’s laptop.

READ | Urban Naxals Case: Maharashtra Government Fights Back; Files Counter-affidavit Explaining Its Action, Ahead Of Supreme Court Hearing