Commission probing Koregaon Bhima violence concludes hearings after 8 years

Eight and a half years after its establishment, the Koregaon Bhima Commission of Inquiry has wrapped up its hearings. The Maharashtra government formed the panel on February 9, 2018, to investigate the violence that erupted in Koregaon Bhima and nearby villages on January 1, 2018. At the time, thousands of Ambedkarites had gathered to mark the 200th battle of Koregaon Bhima.

The Commission, headed by retired high court justice J N Patel and former chief secretary Sumit Malik, received a six-month extension on September 11. V V Palnitkar, the Commission’s secretary, informed The Indian Express that the government granted another two-month extension to finalize its report. The Commission held hearings in Mumbai and Pune, meeting 58 witnesses, including Sharad Pawar, Prakash Ambedkar, various government officials, and farmers. The final report will be submitted to the state government by October 31, 2026.