Sadabhau Khot under fire, CM Fadnavis defends him

Mumbai: The opposition in the Assembly on Monday took up a complaint of misbehaviour alleged by a woman against minister of state Sadabhau Khot, but without naming him. However, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis came to his colleague’s defense and said the woman had filed the police complaint due to a misunderstanding and had withdrawn it later.

There were reports that a Kolhapur-based woman has filed a police complaint against Mr Khot.

According to House rules, one has to seek the Speaker’s permission before making allegations against any member of the House. As the opposition had not taken the Speaker’s permission, the entire discussion went on without naming Mr Khot. Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar read out a part of the complaint made by the woman in the Assembly. “The woman has said in the complaint that the minister misbehaved with her and hatched a conspiracy against her,” he said.

However, ruling party MLAs and senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Eknath Khadse objected to the issue being taken up in the Assembly. “I think the woman has withdrawn her complaint,” he said. But Mr Pawar said that he has in his possession a CD about the woman’s complaint. The two leaders had a heated exchange of words.  

However, Speaker Haribhau Bagde said that the name of the House member was not mentioned by Mr Pawar and therefore he could not give any instructions to explain the issue to the state government.

Later, as head of the home department, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said that the woman has a dispute with one Prashant Jadhav and the matter is sub judice. The woman thought that the minister was helping Jadhav and hence she lodged a complaint, Mr Fadnavis said. “The woman has withdrawn her complaint after understanding the reality. The matter is over now,” he said.