A sessions court in the city on Saturday rejected the anticipatory bail application filed by former Shiv Sena corporator Mohan Lokegaokar in connection with an assault on Brihanmumbai Municipal Corpor
A sessions court in the city on Saturday rejected the anticipatory bail application filed by former Shiv Sena corporator Mohan Lokegaokar in connection with an assault on Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) officials who had gone to demolish an illegal structure in Santa Cruz.
The prosecution case is that a Mumbai civic official was so severely beaten up by Lokegaokar and his supporters that he had to be admitted to the ICU of Bhabha Hospital in Bandra.
Lokegaokar’s lawyer argued before the court that he had been falsely implicated in this case at the behest of a builder. The lawyer alleged that the applicant in the past had complained about the builder’s illegal construction and also produced copy of documents related to complaints. The applicant claimed that he was not present on the spot when the incident took place.
On the other hand, public prosecutor Iqbal Solkar opposed the pre-arrest bail plea claiming that the applicant was very much present on the spot and was actively involved in assaulting BMC officials.
According to prosecution, the police has recorded statements of the injured and other eye-witnesses and they have clearly described the applicant’s role in the assault and hence, he should not be granted anticipatory bail.
A ground plus three construction in Santa Cruz was found to be illegal. The civic body had followed due procedure and sent the builders notices. When construction went on, BMC officials went there on April 11 to demolish it. The police has said that Sayaji Ghadge, a colony officer with the H/West ward office, had gone to demolish the structure in the Khotwadi area.
However, Lokegaokar and his men allegedly assaulted Mr Ghadge. Mr Ghadge suffered injuries to his eyes, head and back.
