As Pune gangsters meet CM Shinde and Ajit Pawar; Sena (UBT), Cong call it ‘Goonda Raj’

Ghaiwal and Gajanan Marne gang are locked in a tussle over supremacy in the Kothrud area of Pune. Ghaiwal was once close to Gajanan Marne, who reigned in Kothrud, Pune City, and Mulshi areas. They have roped in several youngsters in criminal activities.

The Uddhav Sena also alleged that Ajit Pawar’s NCP is also eyeing gangsters to boost its chances in the upcoming elections. “Asif Dadhi alias Asif Mohammed Iqbal Shaikh is a notorious gangster from Pune. A photo of him meeting Ajit Pawar at his bungalow in Mumbai has gone viral. Asif Dadhi belongs to the Meghnath Shetty gang. He has a crime record of 36 years and has a SIMI connection,” the Shiv Sena alleged.

The Shiv Sena has also alleged that ‘supari killer’ and sharpshooter Deepak Sapke has joined the Shinde-led Sena in the presence of the chief minister. “A photo of the Chief Minister in a jocular mood with the gangster has gone viral. It shows who is spreading Goonda Raj in Maharashtra. The CM has given his stamp of approval for protecting and spreading Goonda Raj and the picture is the concrete proof of his blessings,” alleged Raut.

Raut alleged that gangsters are being roped in by Mahayuti parties so that they could be pressed into service during the elections. “The Mahayuti parties are clearly going to deploy gangsters and create terror in the minds of the voters. They are being recruited with a specific job in mind. Gangsters rule their areas where their diktats run among the masses,” he said.

MPCC chief Nana Patole said, “There is nothing new in the fact that goonda raj is spreading its tentacles in Maharashtra. We have been raising our voices against this goonda raj culture being backed by the Mahayuti government. Maharashtra is no longer a safe state. Their goondas are resorting to firing right in the police station, threatening officials and engineers and demanding ransom…”

Opposition leader Ambadas Danve said, “If gangsters are reaching the residence of the Chief Minister, then we should have no hesitation in calling Maharashtra a ‘goonda raj’ state. The goondas are being roped in by parties in a bid to create terror in the minds of voters for gaining political mileage during elections”.

On their part, the Shinde-led Sena and Nationalist Congress Party of Ajit Pawar said they cannot screen everyone who meets the chief minister and his deputy.

Shinde-led Sena spokesperson Naresh Mhaske said, “Several people come to meet the Chief Minister for various purposes, including seeking help for their problems. There is no way to scan their antecedents at that moment. The CM does not know hundreds of those who come to see him”.

NCP spokesperson Umesh Patil said, “Every person coming to meet the Deputy Chief Minister is not screened. It is impossible to keep digging up their records or their antecedents. Besides, in this particular case, Asif Dadhi runs an organisation for transgenders. He had come to invite the Deputy Chief Minister to an event which they are organising. What is wrong with that?”