Dhangekar kicks up a storm, targets Minister Chandrakant Patil

“Despite Chandrakant Patil being in the government, how is crime thriving in Kothrud area? That is the key question. One particular associate of Chandrakant Patil puts pressure on the police and ensures help for criminals,” Dhangekar had alleged at a press conference on October 8.

Dhangekar said the associate in question in Patil’s office was slapped with MCOCA by the police. “He has property worth Rs 100 crore. He came to Pune 20 years back and how has he become the owner of property worth Rs 100 crore? Patil is not speaking on this issue, maybe because is doing some introspection. The needle of suspicious is on him, he should clarify,” he said.

Earlier, Dhangekar had alleged that Kothrud has become a hotbed for criminals, who were blatantly indulging in all sorts of crimes, from murders and threats to dacoity. “Andekar gang, Ghaywal gang and Marne gang are spreading terror in Kothrud. Goons are not bothered about the police. They are calling the shots daily and even in broadday lights,” he alleged.

The city unit of the BJP hit back at Dhangekar, calling him a “blackmailer”. “Puneites are well aware of the mischievous activities of Dhangekar. He is a blackmailer. He is desperate to gain publicity and is therefore making wild allegations against Patil,” said BJP city president Dheeraj Ghate at a press conference in the party office in the city on October 9.

Ghate said the allegations by Dhangekar against Patil were baseless and driven by personal vendetta. He, however, denied Dhangekar’s allegations will strain ties between the BJP and the Sena. “Mahayuti is an ocean. It is a strong alliance of three parties. There is effective coordination between the chief minister and the two deputy chief ministers. Dhangekar’s wrong statements will not have any effect on the Mahayuti.”

Ghate said Dhangekar joined the Shiv Sena just a few months back. “It seems he is still not conscious of the fact that he is part of the Shiv Sena now. Even otherwise he keeps changing parties and has no image of himself. Puneites rejected him during the Lok Sabha elections and Kasba voters also rejected him during the Assembly elections. Patil was elected with a huge number of votes. Dhangekar is indulging in personal attacks on Patil to gain publicity,” he said.

Ghate said he does not believe Deputy CM Eknath Shinde was supporting Dhangekar. “His party seniors should deal with him… We will give a befitting reply to him,” he said.

On Sunday when Shinde was in the city, he asked Dhangekar to avoid any dispute with the BJP. “I have spoken to Dhangekar. I have told him that there should be no disputes in the Mahayuti.” Deputy CM Ajit Pawar said Dhangekar probably has forgot he was now in the Mahayuti.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis refused to comment on Dhangekar.

Asked whether Patil will reply to Dhangekar’s allegations, BJP spokesperson Sandeep Khardekar said, “The allegations made by Dhangekar are baseless, meaningless and vague. If he comes up with something concrete, Patil will then certainly reply. Currently, his allegations are not worth replying to.”

Speaking to The Indian Express on Wednesday, Dhangekar said after his allegations, a close associate of Patil has served him a Rs 50-crore notice for defamation. “I will reply to him after discussing with my lawyer,” he said.

Asked about his statements that he had erred in joining the Shiv Sena, Dhangekar said, “I was asked a question at a press conference whether it was a mistake joining the Shiv Sena, I replied that I have made no mistake. I’m proud of the fact that I have a leader like Eknath Shinde who is backing me to the hilt.”

Asked about BJP’s allegations that he was a “blackmailer”,’ Dhangekar said, “Chandrakant Patil should reply to my allegations regarding helping Nilesh Ghaywal. Patil should provide information about the goons who surround him all the time. They are putting pressure on the police. They are helping criminals like Nilesh Ghaywal. They are helping criminals get revolvers and other guns.”

Dhangekar had shot to limelight in 2023 when he snatched the Kasba Assembly seat in a bypoll for the Congress from the BJP. The seat was won by the BJP from 1995 to 2019. Dhangekar, however, lost both the Pune Lok Sabha and Kasba Assembly seats in last year’s elections. In March this year, he joined the Shiv Sena.