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Journalism of Courage
PUNE, JUNE 3: Municipal Commissioner Arun Bhatia today continued his fight against the corporators when he recommended the suspension of Congress corporator Abhay Chhajed for pleading the case of suspended civic officer Hanumant Chavan.
In a letter to the municipal secretary, Bhatia said Chhajed has violated sections 10 and 13 of Bombay Provincial Municipal Corporation Act (BPMC) by pleading the case of suspended officer while he was member of the corporation.
The letter says that Chhajed telephoned Deccan Gymkhana police inspector Ram Kondhalkar when municipal officer Arun Patil had gone there to lodge a complaint against Chavan on May 25. Kondhalkar asked Chhajed to come to the police station along with Chavan and Chhajed appeared there as lawyer for Chavan.
The letter has asked the general body to approve his proposal of cancelling the membership of Chhajed in view of the violation of BPMC provisions.
Meanwhile, Mayor Datta Gaikwad, Deputy Mayor Mahadeo Babar, standing committee chairman Arun Dhimdhime, leader of the House Chandrakant Chhajed and leader of the opposition Datta Sagare have strongly condemned Bhatia’s proposal. In a press statement, they have said Bhatia had deliberately humiliated elected representatives by recommending the cancellation of Chhajed’s membership.
