Opposition wants Mahajan to step down after he attended marriage function of Dawood Ibrahim’s niece.
Maharashtra’s Medical Education Minister Girish Mahajan has invited a controversy for attending a marriage ceremony of gangster Dawood Ibrahim’s niece at Nashik. Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant has called for a probe into this incident. On the other hand, NCP leader and former deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar has demanded Mahajan’s resignation. Nashik police has already questioned eight police officers who had attended the function. BJP legislators Devyani Farande, Balasaheb Sanap and Seema Hiray, Nashik mayor Ranjana Bhanasi and deputy mayor Prathamesh Gite also attended the function. Police have seized photos and videos of the event for conducting further probe.
Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant said, “The government should order for a probe into this incident to establish what links does Mahajan has with the organiser of the event. Mahajan should step down from his post until he gets a clean chit.”
When AV spoke to RTI activist Anil Galgali he said, “If BJP had ousted Eknath Khadse from the party for allegedly receiving calls from Dawood’s phone number why can’t the party take similar action against Girish Mahajan who had attended the don’s niece wedding. “
NCP leader and former deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar said, “Earlier BJP used to allege that Sharad Pawar about having close links with Dawood Ibrahim. This is a serious matter and Mahajan should resign from his post.”
Seema Hiray, BJP MLA from Nashik said, “Since I am an MLA, I have to attend various functions in the city. A religious leader had sent an invitation to me hence I attended the marriage function. I was unaware that the bride was Dawood’s niece and later came to know about it.”
Even Mahajan has admitted that he had attended the function but he was unaware that bride was related to Dawood.
“I attended the marriage after receiving an invitation from Khateeb. It is not possible for me to check the antecedents of people. I was accompanied by our party legislators and the mayor and deputy mayor of Nashik,” Mahajan said.
“Since I personally know Khateeb hence I attended the function. Khateeb has been one of the pillars of social activities undertaken by the medical education department in the Nashik region,” he added.
On the other hand, the groom is Muslim Community leader Shahar A Khateeb’s nephew. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has ordered for a probe into this matter after local news channels started reporting about it.
“I have already told Nashik Police Commissioner to send a report on the matter,” Fadnavis said.
After Eknath Khadse, Mahajan has become the second leader from BJP to be involved in a controversy pertaining to Dawood Ibrahim.
