Prakash Ambedkar to meet CJ over Bhima probe

Mumbai: Republican Party of India (RPI) leader Prakash Ambedkar will meet the Chief Justice of Bombay high court and chief minister Devendra Fadnavis this week in connection with the alleged delay in appointing a sitting high court judge to probe the Bhima Koregaon violence.

Stating that his party is firm on its demands, Mr Ambedkar said, “The inquiry should be conducted by a sitting judge and the government should give powers to the commission under the CrPC (Criminal Procedure Code) to punish the culprits. The commission will issue orders under the CrPC for punishment and not submit only recommendations, which are not binding as per the Commissions of Inquiry Act.”

Mr Fadnavis had announced a judicial probe in the  Bhima Koregaon violence, which occurred on January 1 and sparked a strong reaction in the dalit community.

 In the wake of the violence, RPI leaders were insistent that right-wing leaders Sambhaji Bhide and Milind Ekbote be arrested. So, to cool dalit sentiments and show that government was taking steps, Mr Fadnavis met Acting Chief Justice Vijaya Kapse Tahilramani on January 5 and requested her to depute a sitting judge for the probe.

However, the state has not proceeded with the judicial probe. Mr Ambedkar told The Asian Age, “We will meet the Chief Justice of the high court and Mr Fadnavis to follow up on the probe. The government has made only the announcement of a probe, but nothing happened. We don't want a probe only under the Commission of Inquiry Act because its recommendations are not binding.