Dharavi’s BJP leader booked for outraging modesty of party worker

Divya Dholay, 43, Mumbai secretary of the BJP, has lodged a First Information Report (FIR) against Mani Balan, 53, the president of BJP's Dharavi constituency, for outraging her modesty and using defamatory words against her. In a conversation with another party worker, Balan had used abusive language while referring to Dholay. An FIR was registered on October 6. The FIR was registered on the basis of an audio clip, in which Balan was heard using foul language over the phone while talking to another party worker, Asgar Shaikh. In the two-minute audio clip, which was recorded in 2014, Balan could be heard telling Shaikh why he had been roaming around with Dholay in the party office premises. Further, in the clip, he warned Shaikh to be careful in his dealings with Dholay, since she was not associated with Dharavi constituency. As per the FIR, after Shaikh had informed Dholay about the clip, she had asked Shaikh to forward it to her on WhatsApp. Dholay, the BJP secretary and the party's information consultant said, “It is a shocking incident for me. I do not know why Balan had to use filthy language against me." She has submitted a letter to BJP president Ashish Shelar on October 1, seeking action against Balan and asking for his suspension. Speaking to The Free Press Journal,Mani Balan said, “'It is a politically-motivated issue. The audio clip is from 2014 when Shaikh was associated with the Congress.”