Gautam Navlakha | Photo Credit: AFP

Key Highlights Pune Police has claimed that Navlakha was in touch with Hizbul leaders and separatists from Kashmir Bombay High Court, however, extended Navlakha's protection from arrest until further notice

Mumbai: Activist Gautam Navlakha, an accused in the riots that took place in Bhima-Koregaon, and the Naxal groups that he was linked with have been claimed to be in touch with Pakistan terrorist outfit Hizbul Mujahideen and Kashmiri separatist leaders. While making the claim in the Bombay High Court on Wednesday, Pune Police further said that the Naxal groups have received weapons from the terrorist organisation during the Bhima-Koregaon violence in 2018.

Aruna Pai, the counsel for Pune Police, said that incriminating evidence was retrieved from the laptops of co-accused Rona Wilson and Surendra Gadling and the evidence suggests that Navlakha and various Naxal groups he was linked with had conducted bilateral talks with Hizbul leaders. She further claimed that Gautam Navlakha had been liaising with banned terror organisations based out of Pakistan since 2011.

The police also sought quashing of the protection from arrest granted to Gautam Navlakha. However, a division bench comprising of Justice Ranjit More and Justice Bharati Dangre extended his protection from arrest saying it will remain in effect until further notice.

After claiming his connection with Hizbul leaders, Pune Police went on to add that Gautam Navlakha was also in touch with Kashmiri separatist leaders like Syed Ali Geelani and Shakil Bakshi between 2011 and 2014.

Last year, Navlakha was booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and other offences. On July 5, the high court had granted him interim protection from arrest till July 23 and on Wednesday, it was extended till further orders.

While Navlakha's lawyer Yug Chaudhary denied all the charges, Pai contended that protection from arrest was coming in the way of investigation. According to Pune Police, inflammatory speeches at Elgar Parishad conclave held in Pune on December 31, 2017, led to violence near the Bhima Koregaon war memorial in Pune district the next day, and the Parishad had been supported by Maoists.