21 November,2023 06:45 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Sunil Prabhu. File Pic
The Uddhav thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and party's chief whip Sunil Prabhu was cross-examined on Tuesday in the case related to disqualification pleas of MLAs of the undivided Shiv Sena, reported the PTI.
Sunil Prabhu was cross-examined by the lawyers representing the Shiv Sena led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
Talking to reporters after the hearing at the state legislature in Mumbai, Shiv Sena (UBT) MLC Anil Parab said the cross-examination will continue on Wednesday, as per the PTI.
"Cross examination of Sunil Prabhu took place today. He gave appropriate answers to all the questions," Shiv Sena (UBT) MLC Anil Parab said.
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Sunil Prabhu had demanded that his statement be recorded in Marathi. He also sought an official translator who could record his statement after alleging that it was not being done correctly, Shiv Sena (UBT) MLC Anil Parab said, according to the PTI.
"We felt that many questions were not needed and there was a delaying tactic. They have to give judgment by December 31. There is a possibility that they could seek further time and we don't want to give that," Anil Parab added.
The Supreme Court last month directed Maharashtra assembly speaker Rahul Narwekar to give the judgment on disqualification of rebel Sena MLAs by December 31.
The apex court had come down hard on the speaker over the delay in deciding the pleas filed by former Maharashtra CM and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray faction for disqualification of Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde and several MLAs loyal to him, saying the speaker cannot defeat the orders of the top court.
Similar disqualification petitions have also been filed by the Shinde bloc against lawmakers owing allegiance to Uddhav Thackeray.
On September 18, the top court directed the speaker to spell out the timeline for adjudication of the disqualification petitions against CM Eknath Shinde and Shiv Sena MLAs owing allegiance to him who had tied up with the BJP to form a new government in June 2022.
The Thackeray faction moved the apex court seeking direction to the state assembly speaker to expeditiously adjudicate the disqualification petitions in a time-bound manner. The plea by Sunil Prabhu alleged that the speaker was deliberately delaying the adjudication despite the verdict of the apex court.
The Shiv Sena suffered a split when a group of MLAs led by Shinde revolted against the party leadership and joined hands with the BJP to form the government.
The revolt led to the collapse of the three-party Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government headed by Uddhav Thackeray. CM Eknath Shinde later took over as chief minister.
(with PTI inputs)
