BJP MLA’s sons booked over youth’s death in bar

Mumbai: Two sons of Nagpur Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Krishna Khopde were booked for attempt to murder after they allegedly got into a drunken brawl at a bar here, which resulted in the death of a 21-year-old youth, the police said on Monday. Mr Khopde’s two sons Abhilash (22) and Rohit (20) were allegedly involved in the brawl on Sunday night at a bar-cum-restaurant in Shankar Nagar area, Nagpur, the police said. The MLA Mr Khopde has said his sons were being framed.

Police said the duo has been booked under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including 307 (attempt to murder), and are absconding. The incident occurred when the Khopde brothers were partying at the bar along with their friends. The fight started when the Abhilash and Rohit allegedly told the bar staff to slash their bill. “Bar owner Saawan alias Sunny Pramod Bambrotwar refused which led to the fight,” the police said.

When contacted, Mr Khopde denied any wrongdoing. He said, “The issue is being wrongly circulated. My elder son (Abhilash) had gone to have dinner with his friends when unintentionally one his friends broke a glass in the hotel, after which the hoteliers attacked my son and his friends.”

He added, “I have told the police to investigate the matter. Also, it is not true that my both sons are absconding. My elder son Abhilash was injured in the scuffle and is being admitted in the hospital while Rohit is very much with me.”

Mr Khopde is the MLA from Nagpur (east) constituency. The deceased, identified as Shubham Mahakalkar, was said to be a friend of the Khopde brothers. During the scuffle, two groups belonging to the Khopdes and Bambrotwars assaulted each other, which resulted in Mahakalkar’s death, the release said.