The statement by the former Jawahar Lal Nehru university student and member of Unite against Hate organization Umar Khalid has recorded his statement for the National Investigation agency in connection with the Bhima Koregaon case of 2018 allegedly linked to the Elgar Parishad event of December 31, 2017.
NIA was informed by Khalid that he attended the Elgar Parishad in December 2017 on the formal invitation by former Bombay High Court judge Justice BG Kolse-Patil who not only invited him but extended him stay at his residence in Pune.
Umar Khalid further said that after the meeting ,I went back to Shri BG Kolse Patil house.
When the Justice Kolse-Patil,was reached out to comment on the same the former judge agreed that Khalid along with Jignesh Mevani, Gujarat Member of Legislative Assembly had resided with him, during Elgar Parishad event.
“Yes, that is right, Khalid was living with me with Jignesh Mevani. For security reasons, they were staying with me,” the judge said”.
During the Elgar Parishad event which took place on December 31, 2017,Umar Khalid was amongst the speakers
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On December 31, 2017, a group of activists and retired Supreme Court judge Justice PB Sawant and the Justice Patil came together for the Elgar Parishad event.
The event was marred by violent clashes between Dalit and Maratha groups which led to one death and several injuries. Three First Information Reports (FIRs) were filed in the case.
In the case,there have been 15 accused who are named ,after the death of Father Stan Swamy who was the sixteenth accused.
Although the event was organised and financed by Justice Sawant and Patil, they are not accused in the case and they have all along maintained that
On January 1, 2018, a day after the Elgar Parishad event, many people who were related to the Elgar Parishad meeting were present in Justice Patil’s house, Khalid’s in his statement mentioned that.
Umar Khalid “At about 11 hours, I came to know that BJP and RSS persons attacked on persons who came to visit Bhima Koregaon,” said.
Umar Khalid submitted he knew Rona Wilson, who would come to deliver speeches in student movements in Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) where he would talk about political prisoners.
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