Maharashtra Home Minister Devendra Fadnavis launched a special investigation (SIT) to investigate Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Nitesh Rane’s allegations that Nashik Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sudhakar Badgujar hosted a party for Salim Kutta, a. a member of the Dawood gang who was convicted in the 1993 Mumbai blasts. Badgujar has denied the allegation, with Sena UBT leader Sunil Shinde calling the allegation “baseless and politically motivated”.
Rane, who represents the Konkan region in the Assembly, on Friday released pictures of the party, which he said included Badgujar for Salim, who was sentenced to life imprisonment and was out on parole. News18 has not independently verified the authenticity of the photos.
Rane raised the issue under the Point of Information during a visit to the lower house of the Assembly. Speaking in the meeting, Mr. Rane said, “Accused Salim Kutta, who was serving life imprisonment, was out on parole. On the last day of parole, he was seen partying with Badgujar. This is a very serious matter and should be investigated properly.”
Badgujar told reporters that the video that Rane allegedly has may be morphed. “I have never had a relationship with Salim Kutta. This has been said for political purposes. I did not have any links with him, and I don’t have any at the moment. If we met in public sometime, I don’t remember…Guardian Minister (of Nashik) Dada Bhuse did not get the right information before accusing me. In 2016, a meeting was taken to demand another state for Vidarbha, and Shiv Sena workers protested. So, charges were filed against party workers. A case was also filed against me and I was in jail for 14 days…Criminals (1993) bombed he was also in (the same) prison, but we didn’t know…. Salim Kutta must have been a prisoner there… “
Calling for an SIT probe, Fadnavis said the inquiry would be completed in time. The SIT will also try to trace those who participated in the party and their links with Salim.
Badgujar is the Nashik City leader of the Shiv Sena UBT. “The names of those who participated in the party will come out when the SIT conducts an investigation,” Rane told News18.
Sunil Shinde said, “How can we believe these claims, when we have seen false cases recently? Even the PM has raised concerns about video editing. How can we believe such videos and pictures? We have seen many times when people clicked pictures of leaders and later others claimed it was a link. Badgujar is a leader. “He is good and works hard in Nashik for the party. The accusations against him are baseless and political.”
A UBT Shiv Sena leader from Nashik was found partying, dancing with a member of Dawood’s group; a photo was displayed in the Legislative Assembly and a speech was given by MLAs Nitesh Rane, Dadaji Bhuse, Ashish Shelar. A detailed investigation will be conducted by the SIT and it will also… pic.twitter.com/arYDwAtyP1– Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) December 15, 2023
Congress leader Bhai Jagtap said, “With the help of technology, pictures can be changed easily. Many such cases have come to the fore. How can one believe these claims? We have seen that they are talking about leaders, and when the leaders join their party they are mocking them. Rane’s claims seem to be political.” , forcing Badgujar.”
Meanwhile, BJP MLA from Mumbai Ashish Shelar, too, raised the issue of the Mahadev app and the links between the owner of the app and gangster Dawood Ibrahim. Shelar also said that the money earned from the program was used to build infrastructure in Bhayander near Mumbai.
With PTI Inputs
