BJP leader Kirit Somaiya ‘manhandled by Shiv Sena workers’ at PMC

Sena workers, however, claimed that they were only trying to speak to Somaiya and hand over a memorandum about alleged corruption in the BJP-run PMC.

The BJP leader reached Pune on Saturday afternoon and first submitted a complaint application at Shivajinagar police station. “Today 4 pm I will file complaint at Shivaji Nagar Pune police station against Sanjay Raut, Partner Sujit Patkar Lifeline Hospital Management Services for Shivaji Nagar Pune Jumbo Covid Centre Scam, resulting in death of Covid patients,” Somaiya had posted on Twitter earlier in the day.

After his visit to the police station, he headed for PMC to meet Kumar. However, he was intercepted, allegedly by a group of Sena workers, who had already gathered at the entrance of the civic body. A scuffle ensued between Somaiya, the BJP workers accompanying him and Sena workers, during which Somaiya fell down the stairs.

The BJP leader was taken to Sancheti Hospital for a check-up by BJP workers. “I am attacked by Shivsena Gundas inside the premises of Pune Mahapalika” Somaiya posted on Twitter after the alleged assault.

In a statement, Sancheti Hospital stated, “Mr Kirit Somaiya was brought to the hospital this evening with injuries on his wrist and back… X-rays of the wrist and spine were done… On evaluation of the X-rays there were no fractures… he had severe contusion of his wrist and tail bone. Assessing his overall condition he has been advised admission in the hospital for observation and treatment…”.

Somaiya has alleged that operations of jumbo hospitals that were set up in Mumbai and Pune were allotted to a Mumbai-based firm, Lifeline Hospital Management Service, without following due procedure.

“Somaiya was going to expose the link of Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut in irregularities in setting up the jumbo Covid hospital in Shivajinagar. The Sena workers manhandled him and stopped him from meeting civic officers. The BJP leader fell down and was injured,” claimed city BJP chief Jagdish Mulick.

State BJP chief Chandakant Patil said that Somaiya has been facing the wrath of rival political parties whenever he “exposes their leaders”. “Somaiya has never stopped exposing corruption and the corrupt leader, despite facing opposition. He will continue,” said Patil.

City Sena chief Sanjay More denied that Somaiya was manhandled by Sena workers. “We wanted to give him a letter demanding exposing the corruption in PMC by ruling the BJP. His bodyguard pushed the Shiv Sena workers and then Somaiya fell down,” he said.

More added that Sena would continue to take on Somaiya for “not exposing corruption of BJP leaders and targeting leaders of rival parties by making false allegations”.

More said that Somaiya had made corruption allegations against Kripashankar Singh, Union minister Narayan Rane, Babanrao Pachpute, Vijaykumar Gavit and Madhukar Pichad when they were in rival parties, but did not pursue the allegations later.

Earlier in the day, when asked about the alleged corruption in setting up of jumbo hospitals, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said he has closely monitored the three hospitals in Pune district as the Guardian Minister and there have been no irregularities. “As far as those in Pune district are concerned, I have closely monitored them. I had directed the Pune Collector, PMC commissioner and PCMC
commissioner to ensure that everything is done with utmost transparency. If Mr Somaiya has any evidence, he should present it to us and we will probe it. Making allegations without providing any evidence does no good,” said Pawar.