Sangli riots: High Court seeks reply from police officer

The Bombay High Court today sought a reply from a senior Maharashtra police officer on a PIL demanding a CBI probe into the communal riots in Sangli last year.

The Bombay High Court on Thursday sought a reply from a senior Maharashtra police officer on a PIL demanding a CBI probe into the communal riots in Sangli last year.

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A division bench comprising Justices JN Patel and SC Dharmadhikari also sought information from the Superintendent of Police of Sangli regarding the probe of the riot-related cases.

Clashes had erupted in Sangli and Miraj in September 2009, at the time of Ganesh festival, over erection of an arch depicting the scene of killing of Afzal Khan by Shivaji.

Petitioner Samit Kadam, who is a member of all-party anti-riot action committee, has contended that riots were incited by some people in view of the Maharashtra Assembly elections in October 2009.

The PIL stated that 131 criminal cases were registered in various police stations, but probe has been very slow, so CBI should take over.

Court has sought a reply from Sangli SP in four weeks.

Earlier this month, outgoing SP Krishna Prakash had alleged that Mainuddin Bagwan, a local NCP leader and then Mayor of Miraj, was responsible for the riots.