03 January,2026 10:44 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Maharashtra Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal on Saturday demanded resignation of Union Minister Murlidhar Mohol. File Pic
Maharashtra Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal on Saturday demanded the resignation of Union Minister Murlidhar Mohol, alleging his involvement in the issuance of a passport to a known criminal. Mohol, however, has already denied the allegation, reported the PTI.
Sapkal referred to Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar's press conference held on Friday to intensify his attack on the BJP leader.
Ajit Pawar had defended the decision to give election tickets to candidates with criminal backgrounds for the upcoming civic polls, stating that no individual can be termed a criminal until proven guilty. He also cited allegations levelled against him in the past, including the Rs 70,000-crore irrigation scam, to underline his point, according to the PTI.
His remarks came after Mohol criticised the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) for fielding candidates allegedly linked to criminal activities.
In an apparent reference to gangster Nilesh Ghaywal, who reportedly fled the country while facing a firing case, Pawar questioned who had facilitated his escape. The Opposition has accused Mohol of playing a role in securing a passport for Ghaywal, a charge the minister has rejected.
"It is a matter of grave concern for national security that a person with a known criminal background could obtain a passport through political influence. This is a direct violation of the Passport Act, 1967," Sapkal said, citing Ajit Pawar's comments.
Sapkal demanded that Mohol, who serves as Minister of State for Civil Aviation and Cooperation, resign immediately. He also called for a high-level investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to expose what he described as a political-criminal nexus, as per PTI.
Criticising the ruling Mahayuti alliance, Sapkal said those who once labelled Pawar the "king of corruption" were now sharing power with him, exposing the double standards of the coalition. The Mahayuti comprises the BJP, the NCP led by Ajit Pawar, and the Shiv Sena led by Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
"Corruption among those in power prevents accountability. If the government is serious about its clean image, it must explain how individuals facing serious allegations are being protected," Sapkal said, the news agency reported.
Sapkal further claimed that Pawar's assertion of sharing power with leaders who once accused him amounted to a direct challenge to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
The Congress leader also urged the Election Commission to act on allegations against Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar, who has been accused of violating the model code of conduct during the ongoing civic election process, reported PTI.
Narwekar, the BJP MLA from Colaba in south Mumbai, has dismissed the accusations as baseless and politically motivated.
"The Election Commission should act, if not in deference to public opinion, then at least guided by its conscience. An offence should have been registered by now, but the Commission appears to be acting at the behest of the BJP," Sapkal alleged.
Elections to 29 municipal corporations across Maharashtra will be held on January 15, with counting scheduled for the following day.
(with PTI inputs)
