Law, judiciary dept recommended prosecution of Sena MP, HC told

MUMBAI : The law and judiciary department has recommended prosecution of Shiv Sena Member of Parliament (MP) Chandrakant Khaire for obstructing demolition of an illegal temple in MIDC area at Aurangabad, the Bombay high court was told on Friday.

Khaire has been booked by MIDC police at Aurangabad for allegedly abusing a local revenue officer who was leading the demolition squad and stopping demolition of an illegal religious shrine.

On August 23, the high court directed the Maharashtra government to explain the inordinate delay in deciding on the proposals filed by the commissioner of police of Aurangabad to file a charge sheet against Khaire, although the investigation was completed long ago.

The incident took place on October 29, 2015.

After completing investigation, the police commissioner had submitted two proposals to the state seeking permission to file a charge sheet against the MP.

The judges were irked to note that first of the two proposals was sent on December 2, 2015 and the second on August 31, 2017, but no decision was taken “merely because a member of parliament was involved.”

Advocate Girish Godbole, who represented the state government, on Friday told the bench that the opinion of the law and judiciary department was received on September

6.

The file will be re-submitted to the minister concerned and decision will be taken soon.