The Opposition on Sunday targeted Housing Minister Prakash Mehta, after his former personal assistant and ex-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) office-bearer Sachin Pawar was arrested on Saturday in connection with the murder of diamond trader Rajeshwar Udani.
Sachin and another accused, Dinesh Pawar, were sent to police custody till December 14 on Sunday. Actor Devoleena Bhattacharjee, who recorded her statement with the Mumbai Police, issued a statement through her lawyer Falguni Brahmbhatt saying she is cooperating with the investigation.
The statement said, “Some media houses have published a false story that in the said case my client has been arrested, without verifying the facts … which has not only tarnished [Ms. Bhattacharjee’s] image and caused humiliation to her, but has caused a hindrance and prejudice in the case.”
“You are therefore called upon to refrain yourselves from publishing such articles without verifying the facts. If you fail to do so and in case any such articles get published henceforth, my client will be compelled to take appropriate legal action against those who do so,” it said.
The Opposition, meanwhile, sought an investigation into whether Sachin Pawar has support from Mr. Mehta. “He was with the BJP and was a personal assistant of Prakash Mehta. There has to be a thorough inquiry into every aspect of the case,” State Congress president Ashok Chavan said.
Mr. Mehta had issued a statement on Saturday saying Mr. Pawar does not work with him any more and had been removed from the BJP. “I have no connection with him. The BJP doesn’t support criminals. The law will take its course,” he said.