INDIA. Mumbai: The offence has been registered against Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) MLA Sada Sarvankar and his firearms licence will be revoked, in connection with an incident of firing during “Ganeshotsav” (Ganesh festival) at Prabhadevi in Central Mumbai in September last year.
Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis told the state legislative council on the last day of the budget session on Saturday, that the license issued to Sarvankar will be revoked since he had handed his pistol to another person in violation of regulations. “Notices have been served upon 11 others in this connection,” he added.
Earlier, the Mumbai Police had given a clean chit to Sarvankar. Subsequently, it was revealed that his pistol was with some other person who had fired in the air at Prabhadevi. However since to pass on the weapon to another person is an offence, his license will be revoked and the action will be taken as per law against him, Fadnavis said.
As per the Indian Arms Act 1959 (Rule 32 of the Arms Rules, 2016) brandishing or discharging of firearms or blank-firing firearms in any public place or a firearm-free zone is strictly prohibited. Besides, the licensed firearm cannot be passed on to others. Any violation of this rule shall be liable to revocation of the licence and seizure of the firearm in addition to the penalty.
The police have already taken Sarvankar’s licenced gun because they say he fired it during a fight on September 11, 2022, between supporters of Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena and those of Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
The issue began when Sena functionary Santosh Talavane (Shinde faction) was allegedly attacked by Mahesh Sawant (Thackeray faction) and 30 others. The workers from both camps came face to face outside Dadar police station. Sarvankar, his son Samadhan Sarvankar and others were booked under relevant sections of the Arms Act. Sarvankar had denied opening fire.
In the meanwhile, the budget session of the Maharashtra State Legislature which began with the governor addressing the joint sitting of both Houses on February 27 was prorogued on Saturday. The state budget was presented on March 09. There were a total of 18 working days during the month-long session. The monsoon session of the state legislature will be held in Mumbai from July 17. The prorogation order issued by Governor Ramesh Bais was read out by Assembly Speaker Rahul Narvekar.
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