Milind Ekbote
Milind Ekbote is a resident of Shivaji Nagar, Pune. He is the president of Dharmaveer Sambhaji Maharaj Pratishthan and Samasta Hindu Aghadi (SHA),[1] and the founder of Shiv Pratap Bhoomi Mukti Andolan.[2]
Members of his organisation, SHA, have been alleged to have intercepted hundreds of vehicles carrying cows.[3][unreliable fringe source?]
Family
His sister-in-law, Jyotsna Ekbote is a sitting corporator in Pune.[2]
Communal violence and arrest
On 7 October 2001, Milind delivered an inciteful speech to a crowd near the Sorati Somnath Temple, after which the crowd demolished a Muslim cemetery and Idgah, and also set fire to Muslim shops and houses.[4]
On 2 January 2018, an FIR was registered against him and Sambhaji Bhide for orchestrating violence against Dalits at Bhima Koregaon.[5]
In February, the Supreme Court criticised the State government for its failure to apprehend Ekbote.[1] Chief minister, Devendra Fadnavis said in the state assembly that the police had raided all hotels and lodges in Pune and Kolhapur in search of Ekbote, conducted combing operations, detained his followers and examined more than 100 call records but failed to locate him.[6][dubious – discuss]
On 14 March 2018, the District Rural Police of Pune arrested Milind. The Supreme Court cancelled his interim bail plea after he did not cooperate with the probe agencies, refusing to hand over his mobile phone and despite five summons for interrogation.[1][7] During this time, Yerwada jail officials facilitated a meeting between Milind and his relatives in violation of norms.[8]
On 19 April 2018, Milind received bail from the Pune District and Sessions Court.[9]
References
- ^ a b c Banerjee, Shoumojit (2018-03-14). "Bhima-Koregaon violence: prime accused Milind Ekbote arrested". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2018-08-31.
- ^ a b "Sambhaji Bhide and Milind Ekbote: the two who brought Mumbai to a halt". Mumbai Mirror. Retrieved 2018-08-31.
- ^ "Who are Sambhaji Bhide and Milind Ekbote – leaders accused of violence that brought Mumbai to a halt?". The Financial Express. 2018-01-03. Retrieved 2018-08-31.
- ^ "Who is Milind Ekbote?". SabrangIndia. 2018-08-29. Retrieved 2018-08-31.
- ^ "Bhima Koregaon Violence: Petition Before Bombay HC Seeking Arrest Of Sambhaji Bhide | Live Law". Live Law. 2018-08-31. Retrieved 2018-08-31.
- ^ "Bhima Koregaon Violence: Maharashtra to Withdraw All Cases Barring Major Ones". The Wire. Retrieved 2018-08-31.
- ^ "Right-Wing Leader Milind Ekbote Arrested After SC Rejects His Anticipatory Bail Plea". The Wire. Retrieved 2018-08-31.
- ^ "Report pulls up Yerawada jail staffers for facilitating Milind Ekbote's meeting with kin – Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 2018-08-31.
- ^ Banerjee, Shoumojit (2018-04-19). "Bhima-Koregaon violence: Prime accused Milind Ekbote gets bail". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2018-08-31.