PUNE: After it became public that Pune city police will question him in the Elgar Parishad case regarding alleged Maoist links, senior Congress leader and former chief minister of Madhya Pradesh, Digvijaya Singh, on Monday said he is ready to face any inquiry.
The police have claimed they have seized a letter dated September 25, 2017, in which one ‘Com Prakash’ tells one ‘Com Surendra’ that Congress leaders were very much willing to assist in their efforts to intensify nationwide protests using students. The letter mentions a mobile phone number that ‘Com Surendra’ can contact “in this regard”. This number belongs to Singh.
DIGVIJAYA SINGH’S VERSION
“The phone number is available on Rajya Sabha’s website. I have not used it since last four years. If government believes that I am involved in any kind of anti-national activities then Modi Ji, Rajnath (Singh) Ji and Fadnavis Ji can take action against me,” Singh told mediapersons.
POLICE STATEMENT
DCP (Zone I) Suhas Bavche said, “During investigation we seized several letters used for communication by accused persons in the Elgar Parishad case. In those letters, there are a few mobile numbers and we are investigating their details.”
These letters have been submitted as part of charge sheet filed last week against five accused persons.
BJP MLA DEMANDS ACTION
Kandivali East MLA Atul Bhatkalkar met CM Fadnavis and demanded a detailed inquiry into the issue. Bhatkalkar said he had asked the CM to ensure the inquiry was completed before the end of the winter session of the State Legislature on November 30.
BJP DIVERTING FROM REAL ISSUE: CONGRESS
Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant hit out at the BJP and alleged the Pune police was helping the ruling party with an eye on the Madhya Pradesh polls scheduled for November 28.
“The allegation against Digvijaya Singh is an attempt to malign the Congress ahead of the MP polls. The Pune police has lost credibility and even the Supreme Court had questioned it over its officials talking to the media on investigations,” Sawant said.
He said the police were not probing Sambhaji Bhide and Milind Ekbote, both accused of being involved in the violence post the Elgar Parishad. Sawant charged the BJP with diverting attention from ‘fundamentalism’ by using the term ‘urban Maoists’.
VARAVARA RAO TAKEN TO HOSPITAL
After he was remanded in police custody till November 26 on Sunday, Rao (78) complained of fatigue. He was taken to Sassoon hospital and kept there under observation. After he was declared fit, he was taken in custody on Monday.
GADLING SAYS INCOMPLETE CHARGESHEET FILED
One of the accused advocate Surendra Gadling complained to special judge K D Vadane that police has filed incomplete chargesheet as forensic science laboratory reports are not attached.
(With PTI inputs)
