FIR filed for his remarks on officers of UP and Bihar, Union Territory’s independent MP alleges political vendetta

The accusations in the police complaint are baseless, he said.

He further said, “I filed a writ petition with the top court about corruption being carried out widely in the UT by the administrator through his close aide officials. Now, he is using pressure tactics. I am hopeful that action on my writ petition will be taken in the coming days.”

Substantiating on his allegations, he said, “In 2020, the Sachivalay at Nani Daman was renovated at a cost of Rs 20 crore, through a tendering process. Again in 2022, he (the administrator) issued an order to demolish it, and in 2023, he issued another order for the renovation of Sachivalay. I have submitted a written complaint to the Lokpal, alleging corruption behind it, against Daman Collector Saurabh Mishra, Finance Secretary G S Rajawat, and Administrator Praful Patel. A CBI inquiry was initiated. I have an order from Lokpal, which states that CBI officials found irregularities during their investigations into the renovation and demolition of Sachivalay. CBI has not registered an offence in this incident.”

Umesh Patel further said, “I have come across eight other corrupt practices… I will file five more writ petitions with the SC in the coming days against them.”

Umesh Patel stated that the Administrator had put a stop to the practice of Ganesh idol immersion at Nani Daman “because different events were organised there for his birthday celebration”.

Talking to The Indian Express, Umesh Patel said, “I have raised the issue of… loyal officials, who work on the directions of Administrator Patel, imposing a ban on immersion at the jetty. In my earlier Facebook live video, on August 28, I raised the question of the education level of bureaucrats (from UP and Bihar) and how they had cleared the exams. What about the vows they had taken to serve the nation?”

Patel further said, “I know my friend and ex-MP of Dadra and Nagar Haveli, late Mohan Delkar, who fought against the administrator and finally gave up and committed suicide. I will not commit suicide; I will fight till my last breath against Administrator Praful Patel.”

Delkar, a seven-time MP, was found dead inside a hotel room in Mumbai in 2021.

A few days ago, Ramkumar Shah, a native of Bihar who works in Nani Daman, had lodged a police complaint against MP Patel for his alleged derogatory remarks about officers from UP and Bihar.

The FIR stated, “Through his statements, he has hurt the sentiments of the people of Bihar and UP, insulted the officials, the general public, and the hardworking students of these states in an unconstitutional manner, thereby spreading hatred and dissatisfaction within the society of Bihar and UP.”

The Nani Daman police had booked Umesh Patel under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Sections 353 (1) (Statements made with the intent to cause mutiny or fear in the public or to incite offences between communities) and 353(2) (Statements intended to create or promote feelings or enmity, hatred, or ill will between different groups based on religion, race, caste or other grounds).

Daman district’s Superintendent of Police Ketan Bansal said, “We have registered an offence and started an investigation into the complaint.”

Mahesh Agariya, Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) state president for the UT, said, “We condemn statements given by MP Umesh Patel. The words used against the people of UP and Bihar are unacceptable. He has the right to oppose, but by saying such words, he has crossed the line.”

Administrator Praful Patel could not be contacted for comment.