MNS leader threatens society chairman, beats up watchmen

While Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) party activists have been on a rampage for the past two weeks, thrashing Pani Puri wallas for being a nuisance to public health, one MNS party leader indulged in another sort of thrashing while he was busy trying to get his friends a house in a Kandivali housing society without any heed to the society's rules.

According to the victims, MNS party leader Sudhir Pawar threatened the Manager, Chairman and Secretary of Gokul Regency-I in Thakur Complex, Kandivali (E), and beat up the housing society's two watchmen. Pawar was reportedly trying to help Himmat Bhanushali (a medical store owner) and his brother Dinesh Bhanushali acquire memberships to the society.

The case goes back to December 2010, when the Bhanushalis bought a flat in the society. They, however, did not take the mandatory no-objection certificate (NOC) from the society and did not pay membership fees. In March 2011, Himmat sent a legal notice to society Manager, Hridayesh Chaturvedi, asking for membership. Chaturvedi responded in the negative, since the society's rules had not been followed.

According to the police and victims, after this incident, Chaturvedi started receiving threatening calls from Pawar. The leader, apparently, even started visiting the housing complex with his followers, abusing and threatening the Manager, Secretary and Chairman.

According to Chitra Pandey, Chairman of the society, "On April 11, Pawar visited our society. He abused and threatened us." After this incident, the society registered a complaint against Pawar with the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Rajendra Dabhade. When Pawar reappeared on April 12, the society officials met Joint Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Rajnish Seth. However, according to the victims, this did not stop Pawar.

The leader arrived with around 10 men on April 15, late in the night. "Apart from abusing us, they also thrashed the society's watchmen, Guruprasad Tiwari and Santosh Kashyap. In fact, they took Kashyap to an isolated spot and beat him up," added Pandey.

The Samta Nagar police has registered an FIR against the brothers and Pawar, and arrested them. They were, however, later released on bail. Pravin Kadam, Assistant Police Inspector of Samta Nagar police, said, "We arrested them under sections of assault, abusing and conspiracy."

Pawar however, claims innocence. "The allegations are false. I have been busy making arrangements for my marriage. I did call them, but I never threatened them. On April 15, I did not even go to the society," he said.
In his defence, he added, "The society's officials were demanding Rs 1 lakh as bribe for membership to the society."