Pune: About two months after the violence in Koregaon-Bhima, which claimed one life and properties worth crores of rupees were damaged, the main accused in the case Milind Ekbote, Preisdent of right wing organisation Samast Hindu Aghadi, appeared before the Shikrapur police station under Pune rural police, on Friday.
He had been on the run after the case was registered and was recently granted relief from arrest by the Supreme Court.
A woman lodged the FIR against Ekbote, a resident of Shivajinagar, and Sambhaji Bhide of Shiv Pratishthan Hindustan from Sangli, for allegedly inciting the violence in Koregaon-Bhima.
Ekbote and his lawyers, some relatives and members of his organisation, went to the police station. He was questioned by a team led by Additional SP (Baramati division) Sandip Pakhale for three hours. “He has been co-operating,” Pakhale said later.
While leaving the police station, Ekbote said, “I am in trouble, others are not. I will speak later on.”
Superintendent of Police (Pune rural) Suvez Haque said, “As per the SC directions, we issued a notice to him following which he appeared at the police station. He was questioned from noon till evening about the case. He has been asked to again come to the police station on Saturday.”
The Supreme Court has granted him interim anticipatory bail till March 14 and has asked the police to submit investigation report after questioning him.
The police said they will argue for his police custody on March 14.
CID takes over murder case
As per the orders of the State government, the CID has taken over the investigation of the murder case of a Maratha youth who died in the Koregaon-Bhima violence. Rahul Phatangade was killed at his village Sanaswadi, about 4 km from Koregaon-Bhima.
