Suspend Ghorpade now, say activists

With civic body taking no action on rape accused garden superintendent, political activists are threatening a stir till PMC is forced to suspend him

Garden Superintendent Ashok Ghorpade of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) was arrested on November 12 on charges of molestation and rape of a 30-year-old woman from Bibwewadi. Environmentalists and tree lovers are now questioning PMC's inaction regarding his suspension.
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Ghorpade was arrested after the victim attempted suicide at her home in Bibwewadi on November 8.

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena's Sanjay Bhosale complained that even though PMC ordered an inquiry against Ghorpade after his arrest, no action has been taken against him.

Referring to the Bombay Provincial Municipal Act, 1949, Bhosale said that PMC should have passed a suspension order against Ghorpade when he was already in jail under serious charges.

"It is really sad that the PMC senior officials are still not serious about this case especially since their public image has already gone down," he said.

Bhosale along with other environmentalists met Kundalik Karkar, Deputy Commissioner, regarding this issue.

According to Bhosale, Karkar is waiting for an official letter from Sahakarnagar police stating that Ghorpade was arrested under the charges of molestation and rape.

PMC Establishment officer Shivaji Daundkar said, "We shall release suspension as soon as we get official letter from the police."