Mumbai: A significant development has caused a turnaround in the political atmosphere in Maharashtra. The Bombay High Court has allowed the state government to withdraw the riot-related case against Prithviraj Chavan and Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil. This decision was taken on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, and is likely to reduce tensions between political parties in Maharashtra. However, the possibility of this decision triggering fresh criticism from the opposition on the state government cannot be ruled out.
This case is linked to the 2012 Maharashtra riots. At that time, Prithviraj Chavan was the Chief Minister of the state, while Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil was active as the Leader of the Opposition. During the riots, both were accused of arson and disturbing social harmony. Both were named as accused in this case, which was initiated against the backdrop of that incident. However, the case had been pending in the court for the past several years, which had been a constant topic of discussion in political circles.
The state government had recently submitted a report to the court requesting withdrawal of the case. In it, the government said that the investigation into the riot incident has been completed and there is no public interest in pursuing the case in the absence of fresh evidence. A bench of the High Court examined the report and approved it. Giving the decision, a bench of Justice Sunil Bhandari and Justice S. V. Gangapurwala said, "The state government's report is correct and there is no legal difficulty in withdrawing the case." This decision will reduce the legal pressure on both the leaders and allow them to focus more on their political work.
To understand the background of this decision, we have to turn to the 2012 riots. That year, riots broke out in many places in Maharashtra, including violence in cities like Mumbai, Thane and Pune. Many people were injured and property was damaged in these riots. At that time, the Chavan government was accused of administrative inaction, while Vikhe Patil surrounded the government in the Legislative Assembly. Against this backdrop, a case was registered against both of them. However, as the case remained pending, this issue was constantly being raised among political parties. Now, with this decision, it seems that the issue has been put to rest.
According to political analysts, this decision is a relief for the Maha Vikas Aghadi government. Prithviraj Chavan is a senior Congress leader, and the case against him was becoming an obstacle for the party. On the other hand, Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil is a BJP MLA and is currently a minister in the state government. Welcoming this decision, Vikhe Patil said, "This decision will increase confidence in the judiciary. The political motives had become clear due to the case that had been going on for years, now we will focus on development work." Chavan, while reacting, said, "It is everyone's duty to respect the law. This decision is positive and will help in social harmony."
However, the opposition's reaction to this decision is strong. Shiv Sena (Ubha) leader Sanjay Raut posted on social media, saying, "This government is working to give a clean chit to political leaders. Will the victims of the riots get justice?" Nationalist Congress Party leader Ajit Pawar also commented on this and said, "Whether it is right to withdraw the case or not should be investigated." This decision is likely to raise this issue in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly as well, which may increase the political temperature in the upcoming session.
In the wake of this incident, the political equations in Maharashtra are likely to change. Both Chavan and Vikhe Patil are experienced leaders, and the legal actions against them had increased factionalism within the party. Now with this decision, both the Congress and the BJP will be able to put their leaders in a strong position. Especially in the wake of the 2024 assembly elections, this decision is important. Analysts say that such decisions benefit political leaders in the elections, but the question remains whether the common people get justice.
The Bombay High Court has also made some important suggestions while giving this decision. The court has directed the state government to strengthen preventive measures against such riots in future and ensure justice to the victims. Apart from this, it should be ensured that the cases are not used as a political tool. These directions will serve as a guide to strengthen law and order in Maharashtra.
Overall, this decision is an important milestone in the political history of Maharashtra. The political careers of both the leaders were stuck due to the years-long case, now they are being freed. However, this decision has brought to the fore the issues of social justice. The state government is now expected to announce a special scheme for the victims of the riots. Otherwise, there is a possibility of criticism that this decision was taken for political gain.
It is necessary to keep an eye on these developments, because the political environment in Maharashtra is constantly changing. Loksatta Datkar.