Mumbai: Mohan Rawle, Shiv Sena's candidate from Mumbai South for the Lok Sabha polls, may land in trouble for breaching the code of conduct for elections. Rawle went to the Crime Branch office on Tuesday and sought the release of his party corporator Vijay Vasirde who has been arrested on charges of extortion.
According to the code of conduct, a candidate cannot approach the police for personal favours or for getting a
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BREACH OF CODE: Mohan Rawle, candidate from Mumbai South, allegedly went to seek the release of his party corporator Vijay Vasirde, who was arrested on charges of extortion | political figure released that may influence the voters. Rawle admits
While Rawle admitted he visited Vasirde at the Jacob Circle Unit 2 Crime Branch office at 9 pm on Tuesday, he said it was only to meet his party member and not to release him from jail. The Shiv Sena MP told MiD DAY that he went to see Vasirde after learning of his arrest, but left after officials informed him that he was involved in a serious offence. Vasirde and seven members of the Pandav Putra gang were arrested for extorting Rs 13 lakh from a central Mumbai businessman. The matter came to light after the businessman complained to the Crime Branch about the demands made by Vasirde and the gangsters. Their arrest once again brings to light the strong underworld-political nexus, especially for collecting money during elections. Police says
Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Rakesh Maria said that the Pandav Putra gang was active in Kumbharwada near Grant Road and its members were rubbing shoulders with the local Sena corporator. Some of the conversations recorded by the police reveal that the gang was planning to go on an extortion drive to fund the elections. They were expecting protection from politicians in return. While Pandav Putra gang leader Deepak Valekar was arrested late last year, his second-in-command Siddhart Mayekar was nabbed on Tuesday. A metropolitan magistrate remanded Vasirde and the seven members to police custody till Monday.
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