Koregaon Bhima Commission of Inquiry extends period for submitting final arguments to July 31

The Commission had initially asked the lawyers appearing before it to submit their final arguments in writing by March 1, 2024. The period was later extended till June 30.

Meanwhile, on June 27, the commission issued a notice that oral arguments, if any by the lawyers, would be heard between July 8 and July 11, 2024. But the hearing of the commission was adjourned on Monday.

Commission’s secretary VV Palnitkar said that all learned advocates and parties appearing in person before this commission have been asked to submit their final arguments in writing by July 31.

The state government constituted the Koregaon Bhima Commission of Inquiry on February 9, 2018. Initially, the commission was given four months’ time to submit its report, but its tenure had to be repeatedly extended to allow it to complete its work.

Lawyers representing various parties have appeared before the commission. Some parties have blamed Hindutva leaders Milind Ekbote and Sambhaji Bhide for Koregaon Bhima violence on January 1, 2018, while other parties have put the blame on organisers of Elgaar Parishad, the conclave held in Pune on December 31, 2017.

Officers from Pune city police, rural police, former district collector Saurabh Rao, senior politicians Sharad Pawar and Prakash Ambedkar, villagers from Koregaon Bhima and Vadhu Budruk, activist Harshali Potdar are among the 53 persons who deposed as witnesses before the commission. They were cross examined before the commission by the lawyers representing different parties.

“Commission has almost completed the work of recording evidence and the next stage is arguments. Learned advocates and parties appearing in person before this commission are requested to cooperate by filing their final arguments in writing by July 31,” said Palnitkar.

The Commission will compile its report after the final arguments are heard. Tenure of the commission expires on August 31, 2024.