Election Commission and Dadar police nab goods from Worli after a tip off. Shiv Sena candidate alleges it was a ploy by MLA Sachin Ahir to woo voters; cops yet to register complaint in the matter
Sudhakar Ghagare, former cop, 1000 frying pans seized, Election Commission, Dadar Police, Sachin Ahir, Worli, Shiv Sena candidate, Mumbai news
The Election Commission and the Dadar police seized around 1,000 frying pans on Saturday evening from the house of Sudhakar Ghagare, a retired police inspector in Worli Koliwada. The police carried out the raid after they received a tip off from Harish Worlikar, former chief of Worli’s Shiv Sena unit. Sena candidate Sunil Shinde of Worli alleged that the pans were brought to distribute among voters on the behest of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader and sitting MLA Sachin Ahir, who is also contesting from Worli.
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The police carried out the raid after they received a tip off from Harish Worlikar, former chief of Worli's Shiv Sena unit and seized the frying pans (above). Pic/Pradeep Dhivar
Ahir, however, denied the allegation. He said, “Ghagare is not associated to any political party and I’m not involved in this case.”
Nishikant Patil, senior police inspector of Dadar police station, said, “Ghagare claimed the pans were bought on the occasion of Karva Chauth. But he is very close to Ahir and we are investigating the matter from that angle.”
When contacted, Ghagare told sunday mid-day, “I’m a member of Gajanan Friend Circle mandal and not related to any political party. We arrange a lot of cultural programmes. And these pans were distributed as part of the Karva Chauth programme.”
Cops are yet to register a complaint in the matter. “We will inquire into the matter and then only register a case,” said Additional Commissioner of Police, Central region, Rausaheb Shinde. However, sources in the police department claimed that the mandal has violated the electoral code of conduct and didn’t have permission to carry out the distribution programme.
Worlikar, who informed the cops, said, “Ghagare and his men were distributing frying pans to women and were asking them to vote for Sachin Ahir. We got a tip off and informed the police.”
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