Connect with us
Saturday,07-June-2025

Maharashtra

Mumbai Police file FIR against Oppn leader Pravin Darekar

Published

on

In another jolt to the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Mumbai Police have registered an FIR against Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council, Pravin Darekar, in connection with an alleged cheating case, officials said on Tuesday.

The police action followed a complaint filed on January 8 with the MRA Marg police station by Aam Aadmi Party state Secretary Dhananjay Shinde, accusing Darekar of allegedly cheating people, the Mumbai District Central Cooperative Bank, and the state Cooperative Department, said a party spokesperson.

Interestingly, nearly four months earlier in September 2021, Shiv Sena leader Kishore Tiwari had filed a similar criminal complaint with the Ghatkopar police station, claiming that Darekar was “a ‘crorepati’ labourer who had allegedly misdeclared his professional credentials in his election affidavits”.

“The Ghatkopar police had probed the matter and later submitted its report to the state government for suitable action. In the second case (Tuesday), Darekar faces various criminal sections. Union Minister for Cooperation, Amit Shah, and the BJP should now make their stand clear,” Tiwari said.

Darekar has been charged under IPC sections pertaining to cheating, criminal breach of trust, criminal conspiracy etc., the police said.

Tiwari’s earlier complaint had alleged that Darekar posed as a member of the Pratigya Mazur Sahakari Sanstha (PMSS), Ghatkopar, a labour cooperative society, on the basis of which he represented as a Director with the MDCCB, and worked as a fulltime Chairman from 2011-2021.

However, in his statutory affidavits submitted for two elections, Darekar stated on oath his profession – and that of his wife Sayli Darekar – as ‘independent business’, which was false and misleading, said Tiwari.

The issue was first highlighted by IANS — “Maha BJP LoP Pravin Darekar is a acrorepati labourer: Sena leader” — on September 25, 2021.

“On the basis of these untruths, he was elected to the Upper House on both occasions, looted the government through full salaries, allowances, honorarium, privileges, and as Leader of Opposition, enjoys a Cabinet minister rank plus the MDCCB perks,” Tiwari pointed out.

AAP’s Shinde said that Darekar’s claims were later found bogus and during his chairmanship, he indulged in various alleged financial irregularities at MDCCB, worth to the tune of over Rs 2,000 crore, for which he plans to move the Mumbai Police’s Economic Offences Wing.

The BJP, meanwhile, slammed the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi government of Shiv Sena-Nationalist Congress Party-Congress, alleging the latest development is “a move to muzzle the Opposition”.

NCP state spokesperson Mahesh Tapase hit back, saying that the police FIR follows a complaint filed by the AAP and the BJP is unnecessarily tarnishing the MVA with falsehoods.

Not convinced by the arguments, the BJP raised slogans inside and outside both Houses of the Legislature, which were later adjourned for the day, while Darekar denied the allegations levelled against him.

Outside, senior leaders, including Leader of Opposition (Assembly) Devendra Fadnavis, attacked the MVA for acting against Darekar in ‘vendetta’ for the exposes carried out by the BJP, and countered it by asking the government to disclose how many legislators are associated with labour organisations.

“The complaint was probed and later closed. Yet, Darekar is being framed as he is a strong critic of the MVA government,” said BJP MLC Chandrashekhar Bawankule, condemning the police move.

“This is an attempt to silence the Opposition, which is cornering the MVA government on various wrongdoings and exposing its scams,” claimed MLC Bhai Girkar.

“As expected, the next target is Darekar. We had predicted this well before. The new Mumbai Police Commissioner, Sanjay Pandey, is acting according to his master’s wishes. But we are all with Darekar,” said MLA Nitesh Rane.

Maharashtra

Police alert for peaceful Eid-ul-Azha in Maharashtra

Published

on

Mumbai: Eid-ul-Azha was celebrated peacefully in Mumbai and all of Maharashtra. In Thane, miscreants tried to spoil the atmosphere on Eid-ul-Azha, which was foiled by the police. The police have also taken action against such elements spreading poison on social media. Along with this, peaceful namaz was also offered at the Idgah located at Dogadi Fort in Kalyan. An attempt was also made to ring the bell in the temple located in Fort and at the right time of Namaz, Shiv Sena and Shinde workers gathered and rang the bell, due to which the police took them into custody and prevented the atmosphere from getting spoiled. Police Commissioner Ashutosh Dumbare had made tight security arrangements in sensitive areas like Mumbra, Bhiwandi Police Station, Rabodi Kalyan and Ulhasnagar. In Mumbai too, the police was alert and prepared in the backdrop of Eid-ul-Azha and Qurbani.

Due to the dispute over Qurbani in housing societies, the police had made tight arrangements in such societies where problems had arisen earlier. Along with this, BMC allowed sacrifice in many societies and temporary altars for sacrifice. Muslims performed the ritual of sacrifice with Abrahamic zeal. Apart from this, police guard was also kept on Eidgahs and mosques in Mumbai. Mumbai Police Commissioner Deven Bharti reviewed the situation. According to this, the arrangements in Mumbai were completed. Mumbai Police also kept an eye on the miscreants and monitored social media.

Along with this, Eid-ul-Azha was celebrated peacefully in various districts of Maharashtra, Malegaon, Aurangabad, Beed, Osmanabad, Amravati and all over Maharashtra. No untoward incident was reported from anywhere. Police sources have claimed that Eid was celebrated in a peaceful atmosphere and orders for action against the miscreants were also issued, after which sacrifice was done and the splendor of sacrifice was seen everywhere in Muslim localities.

Continue Reading

Maharashtra

ED took action on 15 places including Mithi river, cleanliness, irregularities, Dino Morea

Published

on

Dino Morea ED

Mumbai: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has raided 15 places including Mumbai in the irregularities case in the cleaning of the Mithi river. The Enforcement Directorate has also claimed to have seized many important documents related to the case while conducting raids in Mumbai and Kochi. The ED has also raided the house of film actor Dino Maurya. The EOW has registered the first FIR in this case, after which the Enforcement Directorate has now started a parallel investigation. The ED has taken this action under the PMLA Money Laundering Act. Dino Maurya has also been involved in this irregularity. The EOW has also questioned him and his brother.

It is said that Dino Maurya and Ketan are close to Shiv Sena leader Aditya Thackeray. Now Dino’s troubles have increased. The EOW has found many important documents and evidence in the Mithi river corruption and irregularities case in Mumbai, so now the ED has also started its action in the case of misuse of funding and illegal tender purchase in this case. Many Shiv Sena leaders are also in the ambit of ED action, because during the Mithi river corruption scam, Shiv Sena was ruling the BMC, so the scope of investigation has become focused on Shiv Sena leaders. EOW has also made significant progress in its action in the Mithi river corruption case in Mumbai. More revelations are expected after the arrival of ED in this case. EOW has taken action against 13 people in this case so far and has also arrested them. In this, political leaders including BMC officials are also on the radar of ED.

Continue Reading

Maharashtra

Mumbai: MLA and SP leader Abu Asim Azmi appeals to avoid sacrificing animals in the open on Eid-ul-Azha

Published

on

Mumbai: Mumbai Maharashtra Samajwadi Party leader and MLA Abu Asim Azmi has appealed to Muslims not to perform Qurbani in the open and also follow BMC and government guidelines. Cleanliness is half of faith, so take special care of cleanliness. Not only this, it is mandatory to follow all the guidelines and guiding principles set regarding Qurbani. Take special care of cleanliness and ensure that the brothers and sisters of the country do not face any kind of trouble on Eid-ul-Azha. This is the real teaching of Islam. Celebrate Eid with mutual love, brotherhood and following Sunnat Ibrahimi. Azmi said that the waste of Qurbani on Eid should also be kept in bags and thrown in the dustbin.

Continue Reading

Trending