The court was hearing a pre-arrest bail application of Vikas Gogawale, son of Shiv Sena minister Bharat Gogawale. Vikas has been named as an accused in a case related to a violent clash between rival groups during the Mahad Municipal Council elections
The Bombay High Court. File pic
In a sharp rebuke, the Bombay High Court on Thursday asked whether the rule of law existed in Maharashtra and if the chief minister was so helpless that he couldn’t say anything against a minister whose son had been absconding after being named in a criminal case.
Ministers’ children "commit crimes and roam freely" but police cannot find them, Justice Madhav Jamdar said in a scathing observation.
The court was hearing a pre-arrest bail application of Vikas Gogawale, son of Shiv Sena minister Bharat Gogawale. Vikas has been named as an accused in a case related to a violent clash between rival groups during the Mahad Municipal Council elections.
Following the court’s reprimand, the government assured that the minister would see to it that his son surrenders within a day.
Vikas Gogawale moved the high court after the sessions court rejected his anticipatory bail application, but he remains absconding.
“Is the state's chief minister so helpless that he does not say anything against even one minister? Ministers’ children commit crimes and roam freely, and they stay in touch with their parents, but the police cannot find them?” Justice Madhav Jamdar said.
The judge also asked if law and order and the rule of law prevail in the state. Advocate General Milind Sathe said minister Gogawale would speak to his son and ensure that he surrenders before the police on Friday.
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