FPJ Legal | Bhima-Koregaon case: NIA, Maharashtra govt asked to respond to Rona Wilson, Shoma Sen's petition seeking SIT probe by July 1

Mumbai: The Bombay High Court bench of Justices Sambhaji Shinde and Nizamoodin Jamadar on Thursday adjourned the hearing in the petitions filed by rights activists Rona Wilson and Shoma Sen till July 13. The bench has granted a last chance to the National Investigation Agency and Maharashtra government to file its response to the petitions by June 1.

The bench was seized with the petitions filed by both Wilson and Sen through senior counsels Indira Jaisingh and Anand Grover. The prime accused in the Bhima-Koregaon violence case have petitioned the bench citing a US based forensic company's report that concluded that the alleged "incriminating evidence against the accused was planted in Wilson's computer much before his arrest."

Accordingly, Wilson has sought the constitution of an SIT to be led by a retired judge to probe into these contentions. Seen has sought discharge from the case citing the findings of the forensic firm.

On Thursday, additional solicitor general Anil Singh for the prosecuting agency NIA, sought adjournment on the ground that the agency is yet to respond to Sen's plea.

Further, chief public prosecutor Deepak Thakare for the state sought two weeks time to file his response in both the petitions.

Taking a strong objection to the request, Jaisingh urged the bench not to give any further time. "If at all some time is given then let the state submit before this court the sanctioning authority's file based on which the state sanctioned invoking of the UAPA against my clients," she submitted.

"My case is that the sanctioning authority was not given all the material on record and accordingly the authority without applying it's mind wrongly sanctioned the charges," the senior counsel argued.

"This matter pertains to life and liberty. My petition was filed some three months ago and yet it isn't heard. All because of the state and the NIA seeking time to file their say. I deserve to be heard," she added.

Having heard the contentions, the bench ordered NIA and the state to file their responses in both the petitions latest by July 1. The bench has granted this as the last chance for the state to respond. The matter would be next heard on July 13.