Issue notice to Sharad Pawar again: Ambedkar to Koregaon Bhima Commission of Inquiry
Senior political and Dalit leader Prakash Ambedkar on Thursday requested the Koregaon Bhima Commission of Inquiry to again issue a notice to NCP-SP chief Sharad Pawar in connection with a letter given (by Pawar) to then chief minister Uddhav Thackeray in January 2020.
Ambedkar claimed that Pawar has ignored the notices previously issued twice in this regard by the Commission.
Ambedkar had in his application submitted to the Commission in February this year claimed that Sharad Pawar had around January 24, 2020, given a letter to then chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, saying the violence (in Koregaon Bhima on January 1, 2018) was a conspiracy hatched by the previous government under the leadership of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
Along with his application, Ambedkar had attached a news report, which stated that Pawar's letter to Uddhav Thackeray demanded the formation of a special investigation team (SIT) to probe the Koregaon-Bhima violence and accused the Fadnavis government of protecting the conspirators.
Ambedkar had requested the commission to pass an order asking Pawar to submit a copy of this letter that had been given to Uddhav Thackeray along with related documents. Ambedkar had also requested the commission that if required, Pawar should be called again to depose as a witness.
Special public prosecutor Shishir Hiray opposed Ambedkar's application to call Pawar again to depose as a witness. Hiray claimed this was an attempt (by Ambedkar) to create 'sensationalisation' for political purposes and delay the commission's work. Hiray stated that Sharad Pawar had deposed before the Commission in Mumbai on May 5, 2022 and was examined by different lawyers. Hiray also stated that Pawar had himself never mentioned about a letter that was sent to Uddhav Thackeray — as claimed by Ambedkar — before the commission.
But, on April 23, 2025, advocate Kiran Kadam had on behalf of Prakash Ambedkar, again submitted an application to the Commission, with a request to issue a notice to Pawar to produce the documents related to this letter. The same day, V V Palnitkar, the commission's secretary, had sent a letter to Pawar to his addresses in Pune, Mumbai and Baramati. Palnitkar requested Pawar to submit the 'documents in question' before the Commission on or before April 30, either personally or through his attorney. The Commission also sent a reminder two Pawar as no documents were submitted by him.
When contacted, Palnitkar confirmed that advocate Kadam on behalf of Prakash Ambedkar filed an application on Thursday, requesting the commission to issue another notice to Sharad Pawar. The Commission has not yet decided the application.
The two member Commission headed by retired high court justice J N Patel was formed by the state government on February 9, 2018 for probing the causes of the violence in Pune's Koregaon Bhima area on January 1, 2018, in which one person had died and several others were left injured. Former bureaucrat Sumit Mallick was appointed the second member of the commission.
Meanwhile, the Maharashtra Government has granted yet another extension of two months to the Commission, till July 31, 2025. An order in this regard was passed by Chetan Nikam, deputy secretary, state home department, on May 27, 2025.
This is the eighteenth extension given to the commission, which was initially given four months time to conduct the inquiry and submit its report. But its tenure had to be repeatedly extended to allow it to complete its work. The commission could not function during the Covid pandemic. The last extension was granted till May 31, 2025. The commission has recorded statements from over 50 witnesses.
The Commission is currently conducting its hearing in Pune. Lawyers representing different witnesses and parties are submitting their final arguments to the commission.
Chandan Haygunde is an assistant editor with The Indian Express with 15 + years of experience in covering issues related to Crime, Courts, National Security and Human Rights. He has been associated with The Indian Express since 2007.
Chandan has done investigative reporting on incidents of terrorism, left wing extremism, espionage cases, wildlife crimes, narcotics racket, cyber crimes and sensational murder cases in Pune and other parts of Maharashtra.
While working on the 'Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) Fellowship on Tigers, Tiger Habitats and Conservation' in 2012, he reported extensively on the illegal activities in the Sahyadri Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra. He has done in-depth reporting on the cases related to the Koregaon Bhima violence in Pune and hearings of the 'Koregaon Bhima Commission of Inquiry'. ... Read More
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