Court rejects Khotkar’s bail plea

Meanwhile a bandh call given by the Shiv Sena in Jalna to protest against the `politically inspired’ charges against Khotkar passed off peacefully today.

In Aurangabad at a crowded press conference, Rajeev Dale a close confidant of the deceased councillor, Sangeeta Khillare said Khotkar had humiliated her when they called on him soon after the election.

“Despite her repeated pleas that she had caste her vote in favour of the Shiv Sena, Khotkar would not believe her.

Accepting the fact that Sangeeta had accepted Khotkar’s offer of Rs one lakh in return for her vote, Milind, her husband said Khotkar’s men would come down to their house weilding swords, demanding the money back.

“On January 12, when we were summoned by Khotkar at his residence, `Manatha Building’, we were asked to bring the money,” Dale said. Khotkar had let it known that senior Shiv Sena leader and former Chief Minister, Narayan Rane, was waiting for Khillare at his place.

Khillare had by then decided to wash her hands of the episode and return the money back to Khotkar.

But more than getting his money back, Khotkar was more keen that Sangeeta realise the power he could weild in Jalna, said Dale, who had accompanied Sangeeta, said.

So shocking were the abuses that even I lost my temper and stood up in protest, Dale said.

But by then Sangeeta had already gulped the poison she had been carrying with her.