NCP lodges complaint against Datke for celebrations

Nagpur: BJP’s newly elected MLC Pravin Datke, former city mayor, has landed in a soup after the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) lodged a complaint against him and others at Ganeshpeth police station for celebrating his election at the party’s head office at Ganeshpeth on May 19.
NCP city unit’s senior vice president Nutan Rewatkar and student wing leader Shailendra Tiwari approached Ganeshpeth police station with a complaint the felicitation programme was conducted violating lockdown norms.
The NCP leaders mentioned that there were no masks or social distancing observed by the leaders, including some of the MLAs. “We have submitted evidence in the form of newspaper cuttings and also social media clipping, from which the violations cannot be legally ruled out,” said Rewatkar and Tiwari.
BJP spokesperson Chandan Goswami said there was no violation of the lockdown norms but the complaint is merely an exercise to target Dakte, who was felicitated by some. “All had masks, which were removed during sweet distribution. The venue was sanitized too. It was a family programme,” he said.
Senior inspector Shivram Kumre of Ganeshpeth police station said he is verifying the complaint and also taking legal views. “We would send summons to the in-charge of the venue and ask for CCTV footage. Also, we are taking help of cyber experts to ascertain who posted photographs of the felicitation,” he said.