AMN
The Supreme Court Friday refused to interfere with the arrest of five rights activists by the Maharashtra Police in connection with the Koregaon-Bhima violence case and also declined to appoint a SIT for a probe into their arrest.
The three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra, in a 2:1 verdict, refused the plea seeking the immediate release of the activists.
The CJI said arrests were not because of dissent of activists but there was prima facie material to show their link with the banned CPI (Maoists) organisation.
Justice A M Khanwilkar said the accused persons cannot choose which investigating agency should probe the case. He said this was not a case of arrest merely because of a difference in political views.
Justice Khanwilkar read out the verdict for himself and the CJI, while Justice D Y Chandrachud said he was unable to agree with the view of the two judges.
Justice Chandrachud said the arrest of the five accused was an attempt by the state to muzzle dissent.
The majority verdict said the house arrest of the accused shall remain in force for four weeks to enable them to seek appropriate legal remedy at an appropriate legal forum.