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Journalism of Courage
MUMBAI, September 9: They have taken the plunge into the hurly-burly of elections; some of them debutants in the fray. But among the 303 candidates are 37 contestants who are no novices to skirmishes, political or otherwise, according to a dossier prepared by the Special Branch of the Mumbai police. These candidates have offences, both political and criminal, registered against them at various police stations.
The candidates 8212; 34 of the 267 for the Assembly and four of the 34 for the parliamentary elections 8212; will be under police surveillance till the hustings are complete.
Following is a party-wise break-up of candidates with criminal records for the Lok Sabha LS and Assembly elections respectively:
SHIVSENA: Two LS candidates: 1 Mohan Rawle has cases of assault and threats registered against him Byculla police; 2 Madhukar Sarpotdar : Arrested during the 1992 communal riots and charged with possession of firearms in 1993 Nirmal Nagar police
Assembly: 1 Shantaram Chavan: Obstruction of government servants, assault and threats under influence of alcohol Vikhroli and Pant Nagar police; 2 Dagdu Sakpal: Four cases including rioting, injury and attempt to murder. Also detained under the the National Security Act Kala Chowkie police; 3 Prakash Bhuwad: Two cases of rioting Colaba police; 4 Jyotiram Mane: Six cases of assault, rioting and three cases of extortion Dharavi police
Independents LS:
1 Mohammad Qureshi tops the list with 15 cases of injury, threats and rioting Colaba police registered against him between 1995 and 1999. Externment proceedings are pending against Qureishi as well.;
2 Ismail Makwana: Five cases of assault and threats D N Nagar policeAll thefollowing candidates are contesting the Assembly elections:
BHARATIYA JANATA PARTY: 1 Jai Prakash Thakur: Case of threat Malad; 2 Hemendra Mehta: Five cases of rioting Borivali
NATIONALIST CONGRESS PARTY: NCP has totted up the maximum number of 7 candidates with criminal records. 1 Shivaji Rao Nalavade: Cases of rioting registered Ghatkopar and Saki Naka; 2 Parshuram Mirekar: Two offences of assault and injury Mulund; 3 Ashok Dhatrak: Three cases of rioting and obstructing government servants Colaba; 4 Vijay Kudtadkar: Two cases of assault and injury Worli; 5 Sachin Ahir: Allegedly involved in three cases of rioting, injury, violating the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, RAK Marg, Agripada and Park Site; 6 Baba Siddiqui: Two cases of rioting and threats Khar; 7 Ram Pandagle:
