INDIA. Mumbai: MLA Sada Sarvankar from Mahim Assembly constituency belonging to the breakaway faction led by Eknath Shinde (now CM) and ten others was booked under the Arms Act on charges of firing outside Dadar Police Station in Central Mumbai on Friday night.
The offence has been registered against Sarvankar, his son Samadhan and Santosh Telwane, and others under the Arms Act 1959 and rioting. The section of act 56 stipulates the “use of a firearm” includes displaying, aiming, and firing as well as manipulating the working parts of a firearm.
On Saturday night, Telvane complained to the Dadar police against 25 Shiv Sainiks, alleging that his gold chain was stolen by them who had come to attack him.
Against this, the Shiv Sena protested the arrest of its party workers and claimed that Sarvankar fired in the air on the premises of the Dadar police station.
Based on the complaint of Telvane, the Shiv Sainiks were rounded up, and five were arrested under section 395 of the IPC.
However, after the Shiv Sena delegation led by Shiv Sena MP visited the police station and explained to the police the legalities, the charges were withdrawn, and they were in the process of being released on bail. The arrested Shiv Sainiks include Vibhag Pramukh Mahesh Sawant, who allegedly bet up Telwane of the Shinde faction.
On Sunday morning, as news of the arrest of Shiv Sainiks spread, party workers, including women members, gathered outside the Dadar police shouting slogans.
Arvind Sawant, Opposition leader in the state legislative Council Ambadas Danve, and MLC Anil Parab rushed to the police station. They demanded that the police file a complaint against Sarvankar under the Arms Act and release arrested Shiv Sainiks.
The tussle between the Shiv Sainiks and those belonging to the Shinde faction came out in the open during Ganesh immersion in Dadar and Prabhadevi area on Friday when the workers from both sides shouted slogans against each other.
The Shiv Sainiks reportedly tore down the banners by Sarvankar greeting Ganesh devotees. His office was also allegedly pelted with stones.
Speaking to the media, Sarvankar said that he did not fire the weapon and had the state government give him Y category security cover.
“Many groups, including us, the Shiv Sena, and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), had set up Pandals on the Ganesh immersion day. There was sloganeering from all sides. The Shiv Sainiks started using pressure tactics, and I reached our pandal at night. After I spoke to the police, we wound up,” he added.
“However, on Saturday night, several Shiv Sainiks beat up our worker Telvane. The Shiv Sainiks and we reached the police station. There was no need for all this. We all know each other and have stayed together. People must celebrate together instead of spreading hate,” Sarvankar added.
While Shiv Sena MP Arvind Sawant claimed that the Shinde-BJP government was ordering the police to target Shiv Sainiks, Shinde should be ashamed of this. He should resign from the chief minister’s post. He added that if the same trend continues, we will show the “real Shiv Sena” to the traitors.
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