Mumbai: Cops seize rebel MLA Sada Sarvankar's pistol after 'firing' FIR

MUMBAI: Dadar police probing the cross-complaints of rioting and assault by Shiv Sena's Uddhav Thackeray faction and CM Eknath Shinde's camp, leading to firing of one round, seized the licensed weapon belonging to MLA Sada Sarvankar on Monday.
Dadar police officers said they had summoned Sarvankar and seized his licensed pistol, suspecting that one round which was fired in the premises of Dadar police station was from it. "From circumstantial evidence, statements and CCTV footage, it appears one round has been fired and prima facie, we suspect it has been fired from Sarvankar's weapon. For further confirmation, we have seized his weapon and are sending it to ballistic experts for examination," said an officer. The police on Sunday registered an FIR against Sarvankar, his son Samadhan and others under IPC for rioting, unlawful assembly, negligence, issuing threat, provocation, and under the Arms Act.
Police on Monday also dropped IPC Section 395 of punishment for dacoity against the 20-25 persons of the Thackeray camp on the complaint of Santosh Telvane from the Shinde camp. Telvane had alleged Mahesh Sawant, Shailesh Mali, and others had assaulted him and in the melee someone had stolen his gold chain. Telvane was first to lodge an FIR of rioting and stealing his gold chain worth Rs 2.6 lakh. Dadar police also moved an application before Bhoiwada court intending to drop Section 395 after Telvane's gold chain was found. The ballistic expert at Forensic Science Laboratory will match the shell with the residue of weapon and give finding in a month's time. Officials said as it is a politically sensitive case, they are not in a rush to arrest anyone.