City Tories at war over claims of leader assault in car park
POLICE CALLED IN AND COUNCILLOR SUSPENDED AMID ALLEGATIONS OF THREATS - BUT HE SAYS IT IS A POLITICAL MOVE AGAINST HIM
A LEICESTER city councillor has been suspended from the Conservative Party over accusations of threatening behaviour.
Sanjay Modhwadia, councillor for North Evington and a mayoral candidate in last year’s elections, has been suspended for 21 days, the local party confirmed.
The Mercury understands the move is related to accusations that he tried to intimidate a fellow councillor into supporting his bid to take over as leader of the party on Leicester City Council.
The threats were allegedly made to current leader, Deepak Bajaj, in the city’s Dover Street car park following a meal with party members on Monday, March 18.
Coun Modhwadia denies the allegations against him.
In an email sent to the chair of the City of Leicester Conservatives Association last week, and seen by the Mercury, Coun Bajaj claimed his refusal to back Coun Modhwadia “led to an alarming display of threatening behaviour from him”.
He went on to say Coun Modhwadia “resorted to aggressive gestures, including pointing fingers and physically pushing me on the left shoulder, while issuing intimidating threats”.
Coun Bajaj, who represents Evington ward, added: “He explicitly stated that if I were not a councillor, he would have resorted to violence against me and smash me up.”
‘TOTALLY, TOTALLY FALSE’
Coun Modhwadia told the Mercury that the allegations against him were “totally, totally false”.
He said: “He wasn’t walking with me from the restaurant. Then he came back to us, where we were going to our car, and he asked me ‘are you going for leadership’?
“I said ‘yes, I’m going for leadership because all year, I feel you are the leader, but you have not done any work and we’re not fighting against any Labour policy. So I am going for leader.’
“And we had a just normal conversation and I asked ‘are you going for it?’ And he said ‘yes, I am going for it as well.’
“I said ‘fine, whoever the councillors vote for, they will win and I don’t mind if you are going for it. So we were talking, (like a) normal conversation.”
He claimed he said nothing that could be considered threatening to Coun Bajaj and accused him of making a political move against him.
The Mercury has attempted to access a copy of CCTV footage from the car park, but was unsuccessful.
The alleged incident has also been reported to Leicestershire Police, prompting an inquiry.
The force said: “Police are investigating a report of an assault that occurred in a car park in Dover Street, Leicester, around 10.50pm on Monday, March 18.
“The incident was reported to police on the afternoon of Wednesday, March 20.
“It is reported that an argument occurred between four people while in the car park. During the argument threats were made to one person who was also prodded in the chest.
“Inquiries into the incident are ongoing. Anyone with information can report online – quoting crime reference 24*165386.”
A spokesman for the Conservative group said: “Following media inquiries, I can confirm that Councillor Sanjay Modhwadia has been temporarily suspended from the Conservative group pending a full investigation.
“The group will work with all relevant authorities to conduct a thorough investigation and will be making no further comment at this time.”
COUNCILLOR BAJAJ’S COMPLAINT IN FULL
“After the group meeting most councillors decided to go out for a meal. After the meal, we all dispersed around 11pm. “In the Dover Street car park Councillor Modhwadia, Councillor Nags Agath and Leicester East constituency officer Ramesh engaged with me in a conversation regarding the upcoming group AGM. “During this discussion, I was pressurised to support Councillor Sanjay Modhwadia’s candidacy for
He stated that if I were not a councillor, he would have resorted to violence against me and smash me up
Coun Bajaj
the position of leader of the Conservative Party in Leicester.
“In response, I asserted that the position is open for any elected member to apply, including myself, as the upcoming AGM on April 8 approaches.
“However, I expressed my intention to retain my current leadership role. Unfortunately, my refusal to back Councillor Modhwadia led to an alarming display of threatening behaviour from him.
“Councillor Modhwadia resorted to aggressive gestures, including pointing fingers and physically pushing me on the left shoulder, while issuing intimidating threats.
“He explicitly stated that if I were not a councillor, he would have resorted to violence against me and smash me up.
“Naturally, I asked him to stop such behaviour, emphasising the inappropriateness of violent threats, especially from an elected member.
“My grave worry is that if Coun Sanjay Modhwadia can say that to an elected member, imagine what he can do to a member of the public.
“Due to the severity of such behaviour, it raises concerns about Coun Modhwadia’s temperament and ability to represent constituents and to represent the party as a councillor or even as a party member.
“Emphasising the need for accountability and setting a standard for professional conduct is crucial, especially in a public-facing role.
“I hope you will take a decisive and firm action to address this matter promptly.
“This distressing incident left me feeling profoundly uncomfortable and threatened.
“Upon returning home, I promptly notified the chair of the group and deputy leader of the events that transpired.
“I have since then also written a formal complaint to the Chief Whip of the group.
“I believe it is absolutely essential for you to formally take up this complaint and I do hope that you will take an immediate and decisive action.
“I would like to make you aware that this serious incident has been reported to the Leicester City Council
monitoring officer. I also managed to gather courage this morning and reported it to the police.
“I would also like to bring to your attention that this is not the first time that Coun Sanjay Modhwadia has displayed such aggressive and unprofessional behaviour.
“It happened with another councillor only nine months ago. Then Coun Modhwadia was suspended for 21 days for his conduct against a female fellow Conservative councillor.”
BACKGROUND
Councillors Bajaj and Modhwadia are two of 17 Conservatives elected to the city council. The rest of the 54 councillors consist of 30 Labour, three Greens, three Liberal Democrats and one independent.
Coun Modhwadia was elected to the city council in a by-election in October 2022, and then held his seat in the elections of May last year.
Coun Bajaj has been a city councillor since the 2007 elections, and has held on to his seat in the four since. He represented Labour until he crossed the floor in 2022.