Solanki arrest gives Cong a volley of shots against Modi

A Karadia Rajput,like state Assembly Speaker Vajubhai Vala,Solanki was picked to contest the Lok Sabha elections from Kodinar,but with the constituency being reserved for SC,he was given a ticket to fight from Junagadh,over-riding BJP’s four-time MP from the seat — Bhavna Chikhaliya,who died recently.

The well-connected Solanki’s niece is married to Vala’s son. Solanki had won the Kodinar Assembly seat three times before becoming Junagadh MP in 2009.

A close aide of former Home minister Amit Shah,who is accused in fake encounter cases,Solanki can claim clout over lucrative business of mining and transport along with cable network in coastal belt of Junagadh district of politically sensitive Saurashtra peninsula. His grip over the local business and industry was evident as on Wednesday,Kodinar Chamber of Commerce and Industry submitted a memorandum to local administrative office calling Solanki’s arrest a “political conspiracy”.

Jethava’s father Bhikhabhai,also alleges that Solanki gave Shah shelter when the CBI came looking for him in the Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case. Apparently,Jethava used to work closely with Solanki,till he threatened to expose his shady ways.

So far,total 22 police cases of assault,threats,murder threats and attempt to murder have been registered against Solanki,who runs business under banner of Rajmoti.

Rajmoti Transport,with fleet of more than 150 trucks,is a main contractor for Ambuja Cement with factory in Kodinar. His farms spread over acres of land in Kodinar is plough by workers using air conditioned tractors. In the saline land of Kodinar,many locals just work in the factory and others are also sub-contractors of Rajmoti Transport.

The local cable network in the town also run by him under name of Rajmoti Cable. Solanki also controls the Bileshwar Sahkari Khand Udhyog (cooperative sugar factory),which has helped him to spread wings in cooperative sector. But the mining company is registered under name of Maruti Stone crusher.

Amit Jethava,with the help of electricity bills,in the PIL before the Gujarat High Court had proved that Solanki’s company was active in mining in prohibited area of Gir Wildlife Sanctuary,the only home to Asiatic Lion.

“From July 12 to 17,2010,when Shah had disappeared just before his arrest by CBI,he was at Solanki’s farm house. I am responsible for creating the monster named Dinu Bogha Solanki. I was the one who used to clean his election office and look after other affairs,” Bhikhabhai,father of Amit Jethava,said.

He said that it was Solanki who had performed kanyadan ritual of Alpa,wife of Amit,when the couple got married. “He (Solanki) is a diabetic,therefore he would frequently eat dal-bhakri at our home in a week,” Bhikhabhai said.

However,the Jethavas fell out with Solanki when Amit,then a pharmacist with Khambha Community Health Centre,raised his voice against alleged diversion of medicine stock to a private medical store. Solanki protected the doctor against the alleged malpractice and thus began the acrimony between the two families,the father claimed.

“Junagadh LS seat has complex demography including Patels,Kshatriyas,OBC and even Muslims. More than caste,the clout works here,” a BJP leader said.

In 2007,Amit,who had once campaigned for Solanki,contested against him from Kodinar Assembly seat as Independent,with focus on environment issues,which was core working area of his group Gir Nature Club. Amit lost the elections but soon he alleged an assault by Solanki. Before filing a PIL in connection with illegal mining in Gir forest,Amit had once announced to hold Solanki responsible if he got killed.

So far six persons,including Pratap alias Shiva Solanki,nephew of MP,have been arrested in the case. With no action against Dinesh Solanki,the victim’s father had moved the HC,which formed Special Investigation Team led by IPS Raghvendra Vats. The SIT gave clean chit to Solanki.

Later,acting on a plea by Bhikhu,the HC handed over the probe to CBI. Then,Solanki had moved the SC on October 31. The apex court asked the MP to produce himself to CBI by November 5. After a day-long interrogation,he was arrested on the same day.

(With inputs from Gopal Kateshiya,Rajkot)