Mumbai: Retired High Court Justice M L Tahaliyani will conduct an inquiry into the brutal killing of the Massajog sarpanch, Santosh Deshmukh, which has shaken the state and led to unprecedented political turmoil.
Govt Issues Two Separate Order For The Judicial Probes
The BJP-led Mahayuti government has issued two separate orders for the judicial probes – one each for Beed and Parbhani incidents. Violent protests erupted in Parbhani after the desecration of the replica of the Constitution, and the death of a law student, Somnath Suryawanshi, in police custody.
The orders issued on Wednesday are in line with the assurance given by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on the floor of the state assembly during the winter session in Nagpur. Both the inquiry committees have been asked to submit their reports in three to six months with explicit recommendations.
Responsibilities Of The Tahaliyani Committee
The Tahaliyani Committee has been asked to inquire into the series of events — with cause and effect — that led to the murder of Sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh on December 9. It will probe if any organisation or individuals were responsible for it. Besides, the committee will conduct an inquiry into the preparedness of the district administration and the police force with regard to planning and adequacy to maintain law and order.
The committee will also affix responsibility for the incident and offer its recommendations to avoid a repeat. An important aspect of the judicial probe panel is the additional powers given to them. The committees have been authorised to summon any person to obtain information about the incidents. It can enter any premises or authorise any person for the purpose. It may also call for any documents and confiscate any suspicious documents, accounts, or papers.
While the Tahaliyani Committee will have its headquarters in Beed, the Achaliya Committee will conduct its probe in Parbhani. Both committees have been asked to submit their report with explicit recommendations, within three to six months. Retired Justice Achaliya has been asked to conduct a prbe into the episode in Parbhani last month, in which law student Somnath Suryawanshi died in police custody. Both committees have virtually the terms and references.
