Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut claimed on Monday that former Maharashtra minister Eknath Khadse is being targeted after his son-in-law, Pranjal Khewalkar, was arrested in a Pune drug raid on Sunday. Raut called the arrest suspicious, linking it to Khadse's allegations against BJP leader Girish Mahajan in a honey trap scandal
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay, File.Pic
A day after the arrest of Eknath Khadse's son-in-law in Pune 'drug party' raid case, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut claimed on Monday that the former Maharashtra minister was being targeted for linking BJP leader Girish Mahajan with an alleged honey trap scandal, reported news agency PTI.
Speaking to reporters in Delhi, the Shiv Sena (UBT) leader described the arrest of Eknath Khadse's son-in-law, Pranjal Khewalkar, as suspicious. He also criticised the ruling BJP, alleging it was "targeting" family members of political rivals and maligning their reputations. The Shiv Sena (UBT) leader suggested that the former Maharashtra minister's home was attacked "to shut his mouth," in an apparent reference to Khadse.
Pranjal Khewalkar, the husband of Eknath Khadse's daughter Rohini Khadse, was arrested along with six other individuals after the police raided a "drug party" at an apartment in Pune in the early hours of Sunday.
The police claimed to have seized narcotics, hookah set-ups, and liquor from the premises. Rohini Khadse currently heads the state women's wing of the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar faction).
"The entire matter is suspicious," Raut stated. "Khadse has been speaking about honey traps for the last three days. He is talking about the involvement of (state cabinet minister) Girish Mahajan in this, but there is no probe related to it. Now that Khadse is speaking, his son-in-law has been arrested," the Rajya Sabha member remarked.
Raut further alleged that such incidents were becoming prevalent across Maharashtra. He also accused the police of having become subservient and targeting those who speak against the government.
According to PTI, Mahajan recently accused Khadse of attempting to tarnish his image by raising baseless allegations concerning an alleged honey trap scandal. The ongoing feud between Khadse, a veteran BJP leader who left the party to join the then-undivided NCP in 2020, and Mahajan is well-known, as both hail from the Jalgaon district.
"We adhered to a principle that family members (of political rivals) were never dragged into disputes. Unfortunately, people from the BJP are now targeting family members, maligning them," Raut said.
He additionally claimed that following the arrest of Khadse's son-in-law, Mahajan was on the verge of celebrating.
Sanjay Raut also highlighted similar past incidents, pointing out that NCP leader and former minister Nawab Malik's son-in-law was arrested in a comparable NDPS (Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances) Act case, as was actor Shahrukh Khan's son Aryan Khan.
(With inputs from PTI)
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